Boys, Cars & Ramps

There is something about the combination of boys, cars and ramps that clearly shows the industry of play. This is not to say that girls, cars and ramps don’t also create this, just that we have a clear example of play as learning. According to the teacher and videographer, these students were involved in this activity for over 45 minutes.

How does the student’s opportunity for self-choice and the large uninterrupted time period create a rich learning environment for the students?

So what do YOU notice about the ways the boys are developing and/or learning cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills?

We see a teacher briefly throughout this video. What do you think the teachers are doing during this time? Are they aware of the boys? How do you know? What would you have been doing? 

What would have been different if a teacher had brought a car to the child when he yelled, “I need a car”? What does the boy learn about his own capabilities by the teachers’ lack of a physical response?   

What learning opportunities would have been lost if a teacher had intervened and:

a) told the boy he can’t dump the basket of cars and had to clean them up before moving on;

b) told the boys they couldn’t put the tubes on top of the furniture or have it hit the windows;

c) told the boys that the cars and tubes could only be used in one area;

d) told the boys that they aren’t allowed to move the furniture.

What is more important to the teachers—the children’s ideas and work, or the tidiness of the classroom?