Empowering Young Children's Voices Through Learning and Teaching about Sharks and Orcas
Mrs. Conroy engages with children in a nursery, highlighting the potential in young minds as exemplified by Kale's enthusiasm for educating his peers about sharks and orcas. The story underscores the importance of listening to children, nurturing their curiosity, and enabling them to share their knowledge with adults, creating a rich learning environment where both educators and children learn from each other.
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YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE POWERFUL VOICES GREAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE LISTEN .
THE CHILD AS A RESEARCHER The Context The Story Mrs Conroy was working with some children to put together a book all about sharks and was listening closely to the children There has been a sustained interest in sea life throughout nursery since February 2016. Children have been using books, the internet and people around them to research and deepen their knowledge of sharks. Some children are now Mason told Mrs Conroy that Kale showed me the name of some sharks because he is my friend . Later that day, Mrs Conroy told Kale how proud he should be that he had helped his friend to learn something new. Shark Experts .
EVERY CHILD IS GIFTED The following day Kale: Mrs Conroy, you know how I teached my friend, can I teach you about sharks and orcas? Mrs C: (excitedly) Of course Kale, I would love to find out about sharks and orcas. Immediately, Kale gathered a basket of sharks, orcas and books and invited Mrs Conroy to the story corner and began his talk
EVERY CHILD IS CAPABLE AND FULL OF POTENTIAL Kale taught Mrs Conroy all kinds of things about sharks and orcas which she hadn t known.. Orca s can stay alive for quite long when they re on the beach, but sharks die straight away. The Orca s are so heavy they can t get out. Orcas tails are not the same like sharks cause the shark s tail is pointier. Orca s swim in families and hunt for something to eat. They hold fins together so they don t get washed away by the waves. Orca s fins are in the water. Sharks keep their fins out the water when they re coming to attack.
NURSERY SHOULD BE RICH IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY CHILD Kale: Mrs Conroy can I teach our group what I know about sharks and orcas? Mrs C: Of course! I think they would enjoy that because I found it very interesting and you have taught me things I never knew. Mrs Bruce: (overhearing) Are you taking bookings? Kale: (laughing) Yes. (Kale got some paper and used colours for each group and began to create a timetable to go around each group, sharing his expertise!) I need these to do my teaching. Don t tell them what I m going to say. It s secret!
CHILDREN DESERVE ADULTS WHO WILL TAKE THEIR INTERESTS FORWARD AND ENCOURAGE AMBITION
CHILDREN ARE CAPABLE AND RICH IN POTENTIAL The vision of children selling their own work to parents and others within the community was considered and welcomed by staff. Longhaugh Nursery School Staff have so much belief in our youngest children that they saw this an opportunity to celebrate the confidence, capabilities, skills, knowledge and ambition of our children with the whole community, and so the vision grew .
CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE AT THE CENTRE OF IDEAS, INITIATIVES AND PLANS WHICH INVOLVE THEM We shared the vision with everyone. We talked about how much money we would need and learned about really big numbers like ten hundred and one thousand . Everyone was excited and talked about what they would like to make for the gallery and sale.
CHILDREN HAVE A VOICE AND DESERVE TO BE INCLUDED AND LISTENED TO Every child wanted to be included. Each child was given time to think and talk about something which they would like to make and the tools they wanted to use to create and design.
CHILDREN HAVE A VOICE AND DESERVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES AND DECISIONS
EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO BE SUPPORTED TO BUILD ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND ACHIEVE We were very lucky to already have some experts in nursery who had already begun creating and designing with: Felt and a sewing machine Wool and knitting needles Playdough Construction Paint and other art materials Cooking and Baking
CHILDREN DESERVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN BE FREE, LAUGH, HAVE FUN AND DISCOVER Our experts made a trip to the McManus Galleries to find out what a gallery might look like and what can be found there. They took photographs and shared this back at nursery.
CHILDREN DESERVE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND OPINIONS AND FOR THESE TO BE ACTED UPON The children led staff in what they wanted to create and design and staff responded by providing the materials. Have a look at what we made
The children liked the pottery we found in the McManus Galleries and used salt dough and clay to create their own dishes, vases and ornaments.
WE USED OUR HANDS AND TOOLS TO MOULD THE CLAY WITH WATER TO CREATE OUR POTTERY We looked at different types of pottery to help us know what we might make. It got really slimy and we had to keep using water to get the clay just right. It took a long time to dry.
The children found different types of jewellery at the McManus Galleries and researched how to make their own.
WE USED WIRE, PLIERS AND BEADS TO CREATE OUR BEAUTIFUL BRACELETS AND EARRINGS We had to use the small muscles in our fingers and hands to thread the beads and it was really tricky sometimes. We talked about colours and shapes and tried to make patterns with our jewellery.
The children used different materials to recreate the sea life creatures which they had been researching and then began to use construction and hama beads in different ways.
WE USED DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES TO CREATE OUR MODELS We had to follow instructions to create some of our models. We had to know which shapes and colours we wanted to use. We thought really hard about how to put the pieces together and used the Ipad to take photos when we were finished.
We could sell our paintings (Lily 4years, 8 months) Staff provided the children with a new experience, of painting with canvas and acrylic paint.
WE PAINTED WITH CANVAS AND ACRYLIC PAINT. We learned that we had to use a new kind of paint called acrylic on the canvas because our own paint wouldn t dry. It was really sticky. We looked at spring flowers to help us know what we might want to paint. Sometimes we just painted things we really like, like superheroes!
We already had a resident expert in using the sewing machine with Sophie our Tsum Tsum expert. She inspired other children to have a go too.
WE USED A SEW COOL SEWING MACHINE AND FELT TO MAKE BAGS, TOYS AND CUSHIONS We talked about what we wanted to make. We chose the colours of felt that we needed. We drew our own patterns. We cut them out. We sewed them and stuffed them. Sometimes we sewed them again and decorated them.
Some children used their interest in cooking and baking to design and create their own Longhaugh Nursery School Recipe Book
The children had been using jewels and other materials to create transient art and extended this further by using natural materials to create unique prints.
The children taught each other how to use technology safely to design and create their very own badges.
The children discussed who they would like to invite to the gallery and how they would let people know about it.
WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF WHAT THE CHILDREN OF LONGHAUGH NURSERY SCHOOL HAVE ACHIEVED AND HOPEYOU ENJOY THE GALLERY Please tell us what you think of our work by writing in our visitors book!
