Light Exploration

Over the last couple of week our toddlers explored the following questions:

What is the source of the light?

Can we manipulate the light?

Can I use my body to manipulate the light? (Create a shadow)

Some might say our exploration started with 5 flashlights and a room full of toddlers… but when you look deeper we can see how our weekly explorations evolved into our curiosity about lights.  If you remember, weeks ago we studied magnets… that exploration grew into building and further evolved into ramps.  We found ourselves inside a life size ramp, when large tunnels were introduced into the classroom.  At first we attempted to elevate the tunnel and slide materials (and ourselves) through the tunnels.  When teachers added more mirrors to the classroom, we watched as the mirrors complimented the tunnels.  Children were crawling out of the mirrors and noticing their reflections.  While we were exploring the ramps, we were also outside noticing the sun and the moon. So we added flashlights to our tunnel exploration.  We covered one end of the tunnel as we sat inside the tunnel using our flashlight to investigate the insides of the tunnels.  When we put the two tunnels together, we noticed the light shining in through the cracks of the tunnel.  We wondered if we could cover that light.  Teachers added large and small, dark and light material to the classroom.  We used this material to attempt to shine light through the sheet.  We were beginning to notice that we needed to turn off the classroom lights in order for the flashlights to be most effective.  Inside the flashlight exploration we remember children’s interest in mirrors.  Children rolled on, danced in front of, and moved with the mirrors.  Teachers began to ask “how can we replicate their interest in movement and their interest in lights”... Light Projector!  We then began to dig deeper and revisit our questions about lights…

We Know…

We know that every light has its own source.  We know this because we explored outdoor light, flashlights, light project, and by visiting some shadows. 

We know that we can manipulate the light with our bodies, with objects, and by experimenting with different sources of light. 

We learned this by…

Exploring light through many different approaches… we explored light through flashlights, light projector, and a large shadow screen.  We did this with tunnels, sheets, shadow puppets, markers, sand, our bodies, and different materials in the classroom.  We worked through this exploration in small groups and with peers at the same concept level. 

We met the following Early Learning Guidelines…

Beginning to know about ourselves and others: As we worked in small groups with our peers we also worked with a consistent teacher.  We are learning to build relationships with those around us, small groups help us do that.  Also in small groups we are learning about self-regulation: taking turns, helping ourselves, and demonstrating/regulating different emotions. 

Beginning to Communicate: As we explored light we communicated.  We understand the words stand for objects, we are asking simple questions, and we are following directions.  Some of us and combining words (2-4 word sentences), we are expressing ideas, and we are participating in singing, fingerplays, and reading stories. 

Beginning to Build Concepts:  We noticed and sometimes described how things are the same and different. We explored concepts of space as we crawled in and over the tunnels.  We are able to problem solve and experiment with cause and effect. 

Beginning to Move and Do: We demonstrated both large and fine motor skills as we explored light.  We used our gross motor skills to move and rotate and crawl through the tunnels.  We used our fine motor skills to manipulate and change the light through the light projector and flash lights. 

Approaches to Learning: We demonstrated curiosity, initiative, imagination and problem solving.  We used our senses to explore the environment, we made independent choices, and we actively attempted to learn new things about the environment.