After reading and discussing the story, the boys had to rescue Rapunzel from her marshmallow tower, using only spaghetti and marshmallows.
Resources
- Rapunzel – Ioan made this picture at school
- Marshmallow tower
- Dried spaghetti
- Marshmallows
Method
Ioan read the instructions to us.
This challenge worked on STEM, problem solving and fine motor skills, but also perserverance. That is why I have included the following video clip where things weren’t going to plan. At 5, Ioan is understandably a lot more resilient than Finn is, aged 3. You can hear Finn’s defeated sounding, “It’s not working!”
Ioan ended up with a structure with 4 legs. He also thought to secure the top of his ladder to the marshmallow tower for more stability.
When Ioan had finished, he proudly made his rescue, calling out, “I’m coming to rescue you Rapunzel, I’m nearly there!”
DfES Early Learning Goals (2017)
Communication and language
ELG 01 – Listening and attention:
Children listen attentively in a range of situations. They listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. They give their attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.
ELG 02 – Understanding:
Children follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. They answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events.
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.
Literacy
ELG 09 – Reading:
Children read and understand simple sentences. They use phonic knowledge to decode regular words and read them aloud accurately. They also read some common irregular words. They demonstrate understanding when talking with others about what they have read.
Mathematics
ELG12 – Shape, space and measures:
Children use everyday language to talk about size, weight, and position to solve problems. They explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them.
