Empty Frame

Date: 4/21

Empty Frame

What is our theme? 
S.T.E.A.M.

What is the lesson (overall purpose)?  
To provide an open space for a child to investigate, sort and arrange natural materials that intrigue the senses. 

MA Guidelines/Standards:
APL 1: The child will demonstrate initiative, self-direction, and independence.
APL 2: The child will demonstrate eagerness and curiosity as a learner.
PreK-LS1-3 (MA). Use their five senses in their exploration and play to gather information.
PreK-PS1-2 (MA). Investigate natural and human-made objects to describe, compare, sort and classify objects based on observable physical characteristics, uses, and whether something is manufactured or occurs in nature.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will show initiative, curiosity, and creativity. 
Students will engage their senses while they explore natural materials.

Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
I love to encourage playing soft music in the background. :)  
“Cozy Acoustic Morning” is one of my favorite playlists to use on spotify!

Materials

• Anything that could be used as an “empty frame”.
  

 For example: hoola hoop, mason jar rings, a lattice, a chalk drawn frame outside, or of course an empty picture frame you may have around the house. (Collect/make as many as you can for this activity! Alway fun to provide options)

• Bag to collect natural materials
  
• Bowls to put natural materials into for your child. 
  

Activity (Procedure):

• Either gather natural materials with your child or do so for your child before beginning activity.
  
• Gather materials that would engage the senses. Think smell, texture, colors, shape, and size.
  
• Put materials into bowls next to your empty frames. 
  
• Provide a visual rather than a verbal cue for your child on what to do here. You can do this by creating your own frame. Maybe you create an interesting pattern or maybe you order pine cones by size across your frame.
  
• Let your child follow with their own frame.
  

Activity Wrap Up: 
Look with awe at your child’s work. Ask your child to tell you about what they did.

How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment)

Things to look for: 

• arrangement of materials by color, size, and shape. 
  
• Do they experiment with building or stacking?
  
• Look for the inventive or unusual ways children use the frames or materials. Look for ways you may not have anticipated. 
  
• Then look deeper, ask yourself what caused them to do that, what do they know about the material, and also ask, are they applying knowledge they have to a new situation.
  
• Listen for the ways children describe and identify materials. 
  

How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
After your child has had time to explore independently, feel free to ask your child questions like:

• Can you find all the green items?
  
• Can you find all the small items? All the larger items?
  
• Can you build a tower/house with any of your items?
  
• Can you make another picture with your items?
  

Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)