Approaches to Childhood learning – Class activity Record Sheet

After every class Activity write into the record sheet. Add photos throughout the record. 15 records

min required for portfolio. Add lots of images to illustrate your understanding.

Name__Rosie Mulvaney_______________________________________

Date: 12th

November

2014

Week

number:

10 Attended: Yes

Name and image of the Activity

Dream catcher

Materials used:

Paper plates

Wool

Beads

Feathers

Ribbon

Time plan:

This activity took about half an hour to complete as everyone was going at their own pace and it was

important that everyone took their tie and were not rushed

Room and/or equipment requirements:

Scissors

Hole puncher

General Aim of activity – What will the final outcome be? ie. ‘To make an aeroplane with cardboard’ box.

The aim of this activity was to create a dream catcher using paper plates

Specific Learning outcomes of the activity – What will be learned by doing the activity? Ie. ‘To use fine motor skills using the scissors’

To learn how to observe the activity and follow instructions in a specific order

To use their fine motor skills using the scissors

To enhance their hand eye co – ordination by threading the beads

Learn to be patient as the beads were quite hard to thread through the wool

Steps for making or doing activity:

Use images with short captions

Step 1: Cut out the inner circle of the plate

Step 2: Punch 6/8 hole on the inside of the ring

Step 3: Thread the wool through the holes

Step 4: Thread the beads through the wool

Step 5: Punch 3 more holes at the bottom of the plate on the outside

Step 6: Again thread the bead and tie on a feather

Step 7: Punch a hole at the top of the plate and tie a loop using the ribbon so you can hang it up

How will the child/ren benefit from the activity?

Learn about dream catchers

Learn how to concentrate

Find out what interests them

Learn through trial and error while threading the beads

They will achieve mastery

Age group/s: (development level)

This activity would be suitable for pre – school children and for the after school children as it would get

them thinking and would encourage problem solving

How would you make the activity more inclusive? Principles of universal design

This activity is simple and intuitive as it is easy to follow and some of the steps are quite repetitive and

does not require a lot of energy

How would you adapt the activity to suit outside/inside?

This activity probably wouldn’t be suitable for the outdoors as some of the materials are quite light and

would easily blow away and this would distract the children and would make them annoy some of them

Simplify this activity:

This activity is already quite simple and would be suitable for all children over 3, however I would change

the wool and use string instead as it was hard to thread the beads.

Variations for the activity: How could you vary the activity? ‘Marbling using foam or egg whites instead’

Could make a dream catcher mobile

Could use different materials

String Plastic beads

The Learning outcomes linked to Aistear

Exploring and thinking Identity and Belonging Well-being Communicating

Aim 1: 1, 2, 3, 6 Aim 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Aim 1: 1, 4, 5, 6 Aim 1: 1, 3, 6

Aim 2: 2, 5, 6 Aim 2: 1 Aim 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Aim 2: 3, 4

Aim 3: 4, 6 Aim 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 Aim 3: 1, 5 Aim 3: 2

Aim 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 Aim 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Aim 4: 1, 4, 5, 6 Aim 4:2, 5, 6

Other curriculums: Montessori, HiScope..

Safety concerns? If any

The only safety concern I would have is when you have to poke the scissors through the plate in order to

cut it, I would be afraid that the children would stab themselves.

Could the activity link to an external activity/group/ outing? ‘Visit to a farm/forest to see/do….’

The setting could hold an activity around bedtime and the routines the children do each night before they

go to bed. They could then talk about dreams and what they dream about, finally they could talk

about nightmares and how dream catchers catch all the bad dreams.

Extensions for the activity: Could science, geography, history, culture, literacy, maths etc, be incorporated into to the activity? How? What changes would you make?

If I was doing this activity again, I would change some of the materials like the wool and I would use

something stronger for the main part of the dream catcher as the plate was a little light and it is easily

bend. This activity incorporates maths as the children would be learning about the different sizes of the

beads and the weight of them.

Interactions with children: talk about…. Talk with your child about what they are doing. This will help them understand the physical and mental processes they are going through as well as giving them the vocabulary to describe it. "Look at how the paint splatters like that"

Who knows what this is?

Does anyone know what it’s used for?

Look at the pattern we have made just by threading the wool.

Problem solving element? Make your child aware of the problem solving involved and ask them questions as needed to help them work out problems themselves, eg. "Why isn't the paint coming out now?", "Is the straw reaching the paint when the bottle is tipped like that?", "How could you fix that?"

I wonder why it’s so hard to thread these beads

What does this pattern look like?

How are we going to get this bead through the wool?

Evaluation of activity: What did think of the activity?

I enjoyed doing this activity as I found it both stimulating and challenging as it was hard threading the

beads. I got positive feedback from the members in my group and also some critique. I think the children

would enjoy the process of making this activity and I think they would be happy with the outcome.

Additional information: (images, books, articles, video links, websites etc.)

(Pinterest)

Summary of your personal learning in points (at least 4) from doing the activity;

. I learned how to make a dream catcher using paper plates and wool

. I learned to be a facilitator and show the other members of my group how to make the dream

catcher and answer any questions they had on the activity

. I learned that in future, I should slow down while making a particular art piece as other people

have their own pace and they might feel rushed

. I learned that if I was to do this activity again, I would use stronger plates or cardboard for the

main part and I would use thread instead of wool.