Green Group Summer Term April- July 2013 This term we will be investigating elephants and what we know about them, representing them in a variety of ways. What do elephants look like? Aleisha Nikhil Aleisha He s got eyes and a trunk and those are his legs oooh, and I think he s got hair, long hair. That s his trunk and his body and an eye. Nikhil A mouth and a nose.
Aleisha Aleisha (when asked how big an elephant is) Bigger than this. (holds her hands a distance apart) I need a big part, mine is gonna be fat. How are elephants this big? Can we make an elephant using the clay?
Nikhil What can you see on an elephant s face? Rashard I make his trunk, I make him ears. Nikhil Need him ears first, this his eyes. He s got big ears, mine has little trunk. Rashard
Where do they live? What is it like to be an elephant? We watched some video footage of elephant s lifestyle, habitat and their behaviour. Nikhil I like the elephant who pushed the tree down, he naughty. Aleisha He used his trunk to break the tree, his mouth is behind there. Chloe Squirting water, all over him. Rashard I fighting, elephant fighting, naughty, they make noise, ooooh I m scared. What do they do? What do they sound like?
Nikhil How big are elephants? Chloe Aleisha Aleisha I think a dog is bigger. This big! Nikhil Put it down, I can t reach. Chloe His ears are there, on sides. That s his tail, he wags it. Nikhil His eyes must be big too! Rashard Wow, he massive! Aleisha He is big, but not bigger than a car. I think he is as big as my mommy. Rashard
Aleisha How can we make our elephants stand up? Nikhil He needs a face or he can t eat. Do you think he will stand up? Aleisha I m putting his tail at the back and his trunk at the front. His legs are very small. Nikhil He s got a greedy eye. Mine got big ears, no, small ears, he that one. He not stand up! Rashard He needs some tusks, they fighting. Forming our models using the slip (glue)
Rashard Massive ears on this one, push! He can hear this noise! (trumpets) Rashard It s really dirty. You need a face, then slip it down. Is that big enough for a leg? Need a bit of slip again! Do you think that s too big?
What is an elephant s skin like? Chloe All creased up. It s all marks. Nikhil It looks like skin. Rashard I see muscles. Aleisha Lots of lines. I think I ve got a pool of clay! Chloe I ve done side to side, like zig zags. Nikhil These look like pens. The elephant would tickle. Rashard I m making some muscles.
Aleisha Chloe Nikhil Rashard Our final models Finally, would you like to be an elephant? Nikhil No, because I want to stay like a boy so I can eat fast. No, because I want to be a caterpillar instead and fly. Rashard Yeah, because I want two toes and a big trunk. Chloe Yeah, because I want four legs to walk and stamp. Aleisha No, because I don t want to have four legs because I want to walk properly.
Throughout this project, we have been doing lots of learning... PSED Can play in a group, extending and elaborating play ideas (30-50months) Initiates play, offering cues for others to join in ((30-50 months) Initiates conversations, attends to and takes account of what others say (40-60 months) Explains own knowledge and understanding and asks appropriate questions of others (40-60 months) Welcomes and values praise for what they have done (30-50 months) Confident to speak to others about own needs, wants, interests and opinions (40-60 months) Begins to accept the needs of others and can take turns and share resources (30-50 months) CLL Listens to others in a small group (30-50 months) Maintains attention, concentrates and sits quietly during activities (40-60 months) Begins to understand why and how questions (30-50 months) Listens and responds to ideas expressed by others (40-60 months) Begins to use more complex sentences to link ideas together, explain what is going to happen next and question why things happen (30-50 months) Build up their vocabulary (30-50 months) PD Handle tools and malleable materials safely and with increasing control (40-60 months) Use simple tools to effect changes to materials (40-60 months) Literacy Reading Knows that knowledge can be gaining form books and computers (40-60 months) Maths Use mathematical language to describe numbers, size, length, width and weight (40-60 months) U of W Can talk about some of the things that they have observed (30-50 months) Shows care for living things and the environment (30-50 months) Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change (40-60 months) EA&D Beginning to be interested in and describe the texture of things (30-50 months) Realise that tools can be used for a purpose (30-50 months) Manipulate materials to achieve a planned effect (40-60 months) Select tools and techniques needed to shape, assemble and join materials they are using (40-60 months) We have also been working on our characteristics of effective learning! Playing and Exploring (Engagement) Shows curiosity about objects Uses senses to explore Seeking challenges Showing a can do attitude Taking a risk and learning by trial and error Active Learning (Motivation) Maintaining focus for periods of time Showing high levels of fascination and energy Paying attention to details Persisting when challenges occur Showing a belief that a different approach will work Showing satisfaction in meeting their own goals Being proud of how they achieved something Creating and Thinking Critically (Thinking) Thinking of their own ideas Finding new ways to do things Making links and noticing patterns in their experiences Making predictions and testing their own ideas Planning, making decisions about how to approach a task, solve a problem and reach a goal Changing strategy as needed