Thursday, 23 May 2013

Week 4-2: Puppets, Play, and a little Pandomenium

Yesterday the children continued the self-portrait exploration by making puppets and putting on a puppet show.  I had a plan- we watched the I Feel audiobook video again, for some inspiration.  I thought that we could explore their feelings.  However, the children ended up creating their own mini shows, pairing up unexpectedly, on their own terms.

While I did not understand the theme or plot behind their play, I did have the opportunity to observe them  a little bit better.  Francine and Alexis were acting out an elaborate scene where they were possibly flying and chasing and jumping:

"Okay, pretend we are two girls, one is me and two is you, we go up and then 'round and 'round, but not in the sky, just golden blue oceans, when I go, you can come to, but if you see it coming down then we just run like this and then JUMP, JUMP, JUMP..."


Alexis and Francine Puppet play
What does it mean when two little girls pretend to be little girls?  In essence, they were taking on the role of themselves, within a world of their dreams.  So, I pondered, what would renowned early childhood educator, Vivian Gussin Paley say?  She would probably say that children roleplay in order to expand their story and change their perspective.

Francine and Alexis "hiding" behind their puppet-selves.

Pauline preferred to play with Pauline Puppet face-to-face.




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