Building Bridges

  As the thaw sets in, spirits soar on the school yard. The landscape changes and promises new opportunities for discovery and routines. After several days of slushing about, the small puddles on the yard expanded and engulfed the sand pit. While I usually am one to endorse messy play and exploration, there are some drawbacks, such as not being able to dry off properly at school. Complaints (about getting back into soggy clothing and getting splashed) evolved into class meetings, and new rules of play took shape.

One little friend; in an attempt to provide a solution to the mud puddle dilema, declared, "We need a bridge!"  There was much agreement, and from here, the dayplan was abandoned and we went in an entirely different direction. The inquiry was born.

How can we make a bridge? The children named their choice materials: wood and rope.

We mused outloud, "How about a pallet?" When it was suggested that we could inquire with Mr. Jeff, excitement rose. As luck would have it, Mrs. Jeff had just taken a sturdy one out to the dumpster and he was more than happy to retrieve it for us. Even before we could get our boots on, a pallet was delivered!

In the meantime, we shared the story of "3 Billy Goats Gruff", and our focus group explored bridge building. The children were encouraged to look around the room and devise a plan to create their own structure to bridge their construction paper "mud puddle". The results, we share below. 

Rulers and Kapla blocks

Big blocks

Unifix cubes

Assorted foam and red wooden blocks

The next series of photos were taken in absolute silence, as this child explored simple physics and created a "see-saw", or lever, for a bridge. I love how the pictures capture her learning as she discovers how the load effects the lever. The beam (ruler) pivots when she removes dinosaurs (weight/effort) at the opposite end.

The beam is set, with a dinosaur as the fulcrum.

The dinosaurs are loaded on, one by one.

Dinosaurs keep marching on, trying to cross the puddle.

The load at the other end is gradually removed.

The beam finally pivots and allows the dinosaurs

to pass over the mud puddle.

The children continue to develop and apply their knowledge and understanding of bridges. While travelling by bus on our recent field trip, some children excitedly pointed out an overpass. On a excursion around our yard, we encountered a bridge near a runoff culvert and crossed it. The opportunities to explore bridges has not passed - we continue to build on our knowledge and expand our understanding and appreciation. We are "building" our schema.

Wooden poles used to create a bridge 

over corn field run off in the junior yard.

Thank you for visiting the atelier.