Last December, when the children were making felt ornaments, I observed that some children were interested in sewing with the felt. In order to get an idea for an activity they could do, I brainstormed using a web of possibilities.
After brainstorming I decided to introduce a loom to the children and taught them how to weave. Unfortunately, only a few children were able to weave because there was only one loom in my centre which was not enough for everyone to participate.
For that reason, finger knitting was introduced to occupy those children who could not weave. The children consistently showed their interest in making something with yarn, so I wanted to extend their interest into a different activity. As a child, I learned to embroider with threads.
Using this knowledge as a foundation, I helped the children embroider with yarn since it is easier to work with than thread. My goal in this activity was first to encourage children to engage in the activity and second, to be able to express their ideas. This goal was determined using “How Does Learning Happen? (2014)”. Keeping these goals in my mind, I let them embroider any design they wanted. The children showed pride in their work, talked about what they had created, and discussed their experience of knitting. Moreover, some children revisited the finger knitting activity while the embroidery activity was being implemented.
Process Summary:
1. Observation to find children’s interest
2. Web of possibilities
3. Implementing an activity
4. Modifying the activity
5. Extending children’s interest by providing the modified or related activity.
Jennie Hyunjung Kim, RECE
Chapman Mills Early Learning Centre
ACCESS Inclusion Newsletter 