Pirate play- non digital technology
This morning I was outside with the children when a few of them came over and asked me to play with them on the large wooden pirate ship that we have within the centre. We then began to pretend and imagine we were pirates on our ship sailing around in the big wide sea. After a while I then began to ask the children questions like “what do pirates need”? One child said “a hat” while another child said “we need to make a treasure map”. All the children agreed and then went inside so thee children could start to make their treasure maps.
Once we were inside the children then began to pick and choose the pencils, felt pens, crayons and paper that they were going to use to make their treasure map with. I noticed and personally felt that by using the pens, pencils and crayons gave the children the opportunity to experience a different form of technology compared to the everyday digital and electronic technology. In Programming and planning in the early childhood settings it states that “most children now experience a range of technologies as a part of everyday life” (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 1993, p. 12). This was shown to me through the use of the pens, pencils and crayons. In Te Whāriki it states that should we given the opportunity to “develop familiarity with the properties and character of the materials and technology used in the creative and expressive arts” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 80). While the children were doing this I noticed that they were developing and further enhancing their fine motor skills through the use of holding the pens, pencils and crayons. I also noticed that they were developing their communication skills with their peers as they were talking about what and where they were going to draw the cross on the map for the treasure.
While the children were working together in constructing their treasure maps I decided to just sit and watch as I wanted to see what they would come up with without any verbal instructions from me. I found it really intriguing and surprising at how detailed and thought out the children had made their treasure maps. While the children were making the maps I could really tell that they were thinking about where they were going to put certain things as they were continuously talking about it with their peers. In The New Zealand Curriculum it states that children “come to appreciate the socially embedded nature of technology” (Ministry of Education, 1993, p. 34). I could clearly see this happening as the children freely communicated and interacted with their peers throughout the whole activity.
Once they had finished making their maps we then went back outside and found our pirate hats, and then we went and got back onto the pirate ship. It was very interesting to see who took on the role of being the lead pirate who would steer the ship as it was a very quite child who I would have least expected to take on this role. I feel that by the child taking on this role began to develop their confidence when interacting with their peers. It also taught me that when children engage in role play they begin to develop their confidence and take on the persona of the person or character that they are playing. Overall from this activity I have learnt that it is important to encourage children to interact with different forms of technology as not only do they learn something but also you do from observing the interactions that they have with it.
References
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (1993). Programming and planning in early childhood setting. Victoria, Australia: Cengage Learning.
Ministry of Education. (1993). The New Zealand Curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa Early Childhood Curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Photos references
Berkshire. (2009). Children in need. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8366000/8366712.stm
Birthday express. (n.d). Pirate hat. Retrieved from http://www.birthdayexpress.com/Pirate-Hat-Child/52064/PartyItemDetail.aspx
Hyannis public library. (n.d). New Books. Retrieved from http://hyannispubliclibrary.blogspot.co.nz/2011/05/ahoy-mateys-if-its-pirate-chatter-ye-be.html
Stock photo pro. (2010). Children playing pirates. Retrieved from http://www.stockphotopro.com/photo_of/playing/B14FK2/children_playing_pirates
The kids window. (n.d). Children’s hand crafted pirate ship play centre with mast for kids. Retrieved from http://www.thekidswindow.co.uk/Selling.asp?product=5128
Hi Jessica
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reflection you have written, I really liked how you actively got yourself involved in the children role play. I thought how you got the children to design their own treasure map was a great way to extend the children’s role play and add creativity in to their play. I can see you observed the children using non- digital technology using the felts and pencils to design their maps; it was great you could see the learning the children gained from this experience. While the children were drawing their treasure maps did you communicate with the children, to ask them what they were adding to their maps and why? Did the children add features of their outside environment into their maps? This is away to connect their environment into their art and creativity. Overall I really enjoyed reading your blog Jessica I felt it was interesting to read and had a great way to use non- digital technology :)
Jessica, I enjoyed reading your blog and reading all about how you were involved, it nice to see this children directed activity and how you made it possible for the children to extend on their interest, and also nice to see how you notice the non digital technology in their play. Do you think something bigger can come out of this? Maybe this interest can carry on for another couple days, do you have any ideas how you can include more technology in to their play and extend on their interests? You have a well written blog with some good references to literature including the New Zealand curriculum and Te Whariki, I found your blog interesting and could imagine the play environment form your description in the beginning. Ka pai Jessica.
ReplyDeleteHey Jess, this is an interesting blog which kept my attention right through from the start to the finish. I like how you took an interest in what the children wanted to do and followed on from there; this is a great teaching strategy ka pai. I can see you really observed the children to see what learning was happening and reflected on what learning you recognised out of this experience. How do you think you could further extend the children’s interest on pirates? Have you thought about doing a treasure hunt for the children so they go around the centre finding clues to find the treasure? This could be a fun way to engage the children in their interest while involving literacy and problem solving. You have good links to literature and pictures that help create a great reflection. Well done Jessica
ReplyDeleteKia Ora Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your personal feelings of using all the different types of non digital technology rather than the usual digital technology. Do you think you will use these simple non digital technological devices further after this experience? Children learn the fundamental skills such as fine motor development; do you believe children gain more learning from using digital technology such as cameras and computers or these non digital tools? Great teaching technique of stepping back from the situation and allowing the children’s own thinking, Jessica. Sometimes this can be an advantage to them a lot more than being actively involved. Will you do this more now you have reflected on the benefits of children’s learning? I could evidently see you observing the children through their play. Lastly it’s awesome to see you extending their skills by making suggestions of how they could make accessories to their play. Overall I really loved reading your reflection Jessica; you described the experience really well which kept the reader intrigued to see how the activity was going to go. Tumeke to mahi Jessica!