Aside from the construction, this was an opportunity for discussion, team work and taking turns.

Resources

  • Grimm’s large rainbow
  • Grimm’s semi-circles
  • Grimm’s wooden balls

Method

The boys excitedly told Daddy their ideas, then he tried to help them create their vision.

They worked cooperatively, deciding between themselves whose idea to try first. In the following video below you can hear the conversation below.

Finn: “Oh my egg didn’t work now..”

Ioan: “And then we can try it out and then we can do my idea and then Finn’s.”

Finn: “That’s a really good idea!”

This was their second idea and was all independent work. They put the rainbow in size order and built a ramp to bounce the balls down, to get some momentum.

In the final pictures, below, Finn was experimenting to see which shapes would roll and which wouldn’t. The Grimm’s mushrooms wouldn’t roll, so he concluded that they didn’t just need to be curved, they needed to be a “Sofia”, otherwise known as a sphere!

DfES Early Learning Goals (2017)

Communication and language

ELG 01 – Listening and attention:

Children give their attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.

ELG 03 – Speaking:

Children express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. They use past, present and future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen in the future. They develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.

Physical development

ELG 04 – Moving and handling:

Children show good control and co-ordination in large and small movements. They handle equipment and tools effectively.

Personal, social and emotional development

ELG 06 – Self-confidence and self-awareness:

Children are confident to try new activities, and say why they like some activities more than others. They are confident to speak in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will choose the resources they need for their chosen activities. They say when they do or don’t need help.

ELG 08 – Making relationships:

Children play co-operatively, taking turns with others. They take account of one another’s ideas about how to organise their activity. They show sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings, and form positive relationships with adults and other children.

Mathematics

ELG12 – Shape, space and measures:

Children use everyday language to talk about size, position, distance and time to solve problems. They recognise, create and describe patterns. They explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them.