Yasmine explores slopes and edges

18 month old Yasmine is exploring the garden. She is interested in a particular spot in the corner with a step and slopes. What is she's investigating?

Good for looking at

• COEL - Playing and exploring, finding out and exploring, having a go, involved and concentrating, Active learning, involved and concentrating, keeping on trying
• Physical play
• Physical development - space, slopes gradients

18 month old Yasmine is exploring the garden. She is interested in a particular spot in the corner with a step and slopes. What is she’s investigating?

Notice

• How do we know what Yasmine is interested in?  Be specific, look out for body language, actions, gestures.
• How does Yasmine engage with these objects?
• What is she learning from her play?
• Which development areas, characteristics of learning are evident?
• What is valuable about the materials provided?

Reflect

What are your thoughts about:

• What Yasmine is interested in? What is she exploring?
• Yasmine’s levels of involvement in this self chosen activity?
• The role of the adult in this interaction – how did she support Yasmine?
• The value of this type of physical exploratory play for Yasmine?

Respond

What would you do to:

• Extend Yasmine’s learning – e.g. supplying other materials and resources, talking to her about what she is doing, make more observations to get further insight into her thinking?
• Encourage other children to join Yasmine’s game?

What next:

• Do you need to allow more time and space for this kind of physical and explorative play to occur in your setting?