Super Powers

Pretend play is a huge part of the preschool classroom and their lives. One theme we kept observing the children playing was Superheroes.  The children love their extraordinary powers and their vigilance in protecting civilians.  To help facilitate their imaginary play on this topic we decided to do a Superhero study!   We started off by talking with children about real and not real superheroes, what powers they had and what they did. The children came up with great ideas!

Throughout the project the children made capes, masks, armor, remote-control’s and shields. (NMELG #13 the child demonstrates appreciation for the art). 

Also during this study children read many different books about Superheroes.  After the story we asked children what the problem and the solution in the story were. As a class, children also made their own Superhero story.

(NMELG 5.4 Demonstrates understanding of new vocabulary introduced in conversation, activities, stories, and books

6.3 Engages in conversations that develop a thought idea

 7.2 Demonstrates comprehension of the story read aloud by asking relevant questions and making pertinent comments)

A large part of this study was the pretend play and role playing of the different superheroes.  Throughout the whole study children acted out different scenarios of superheroes facilitated by teachers and on their own.  One of the themes children role played were bat caves, where they made the caves out of the sleeping mats and put their blankets over them to make the cave dark. Another role that was acted out was airplane and boat sinking where superheroes had to come and save their friends.

One of the questions children had about Super Heroes was “how do they fly” to help children explore this idea, children traced their own bodies and made their own superheroes. We then set up a pulley system where children could fly their Super Heroes.

During this activity we asked children, “How is your Superhero flying”

Michelle: My superhero is flying

 Jayden:  I'm pulling it

Vincent: It going up, up, up because I am pulling it with the rope

 Jonathan: Pulling on the rope and pulling it up

Lukes:  Because it has a cape look

              Look Demitri you can hold it then Pull it

Demitri:  Pull it, pull it, pull it

 Meadow: with a string and pull it

(NMELG #14 the child uses the scientific method to investigate the physical and natural world and to hypothesize and make predictions)