MOTION

Classroom Provocations

Center Materials Presentation Objectives

 Space for jumping and running (gym) “It is through other

AESTHETIC

 Documentation of children in motion: jumping, climbing, running, that we develop into

crawling, balancing, etc. ourselves.” – Lev
Vygotsky

 Journals, paper  RAMP DRIP PAINTING (cardstock, water, paint, 33. Explores the
 Scissors + scraps pipettes, easels, trays, smocks, bowls, unit visual arts
 Drawing tools ramps, paper towels). Present with cardstock
(crayons, propped on a tray balanced on a ramp or easel Focus on multi-step
ART STUDIO

markers, and on a low angle. Mix paint with a little water in a projects
pencils) sorted bowl. Using the pipette, drip paint down the
by color cardstock. Use paper towels to catch drips.
 smocks Connect to gravity. Extend by layering on cut-out
shapes, marker, crayon, etc to make a
multimedia scene.

 Puzzles  COLOR TRAIN SORTING (laminated train photo, 11e. shows flexibility
 Number cards color chips, folders). Challenge children to sort and inventiveness in
 Magnets and the color chips into the corresponding colored thinking
EXPLORE CENTER

magnetic train car.

objects  MAGNETS (magnet wands, magnetic board, Why are some
 Wipe-off board exploration tray with a collection of materials, objects attracted to
with laminated poster). Challenge children to predict which magnets and some
photos materials will be attracted to the magnet and aren’t?
 Gear boards then test them. Place each object onto the
poster sorted into columns.

LIBRARY
 MOTION
 MagnaTiles  DRAW A ROAD (butcher paper on the table, 24. uses scientific
 Legos markers, cars, people, road signs). Draw a inquiry skills
 Unit blocks (big cityscape on the paper and run errands with the
and small) vehicles. Predict- plan- build-
 Vehicles (small)  RAMPS AND BALLS (KODO ramps, unit blocks, test- revise
 People wooden balls). Challenge: can you get the ball
BUILDING

 Road pieces from the window seat to the end of the rug?
 WHICH WILL ROLL? (unit ramp, collection of
items). Challenge: predict which items will roll
down the ramp then test each. Extend with
MEASUREMENT (long paper, yard stick, marker).
Predict which items will travel the farthest and
record how far each goes.

 Flip journal,  PENDULUM (PVP pendulum, string, tennis ball, 28. uses tools and
pencils small blocks). Stack blocks and topple using the other technology to
 trays pendulum. perform tasks
SCIENCE

Children must
manipulate the
pendulum to effect
desired outcomes

 Sand toys  BALANCE BEAM: challenge to move on the 5. demonstrates

 Construction balance beams in new ways, like sideways, one balancing skills
vehicles foot in front of the other, scooting, crawling,
 Railroad tracks hopping, etc. Take photos and
DOORS
OUT

 HOPPING CHALLENGE (painter’s tape measured videos to document

to the length of a variety of animals’ jumps with how balance
photos of the animal): can you hop as far as a changes over time
rabbit? A kangaroo? A grasshopper?

 GYM (gymnastics posters, mats, climber elements, ball pit + balls; 14b. engages in
number line on feet shapes in varied directions). Rotate elements to sociodramatic play
encourage safe large motor exploration. Extend by building an obstacle
DRAMA PLAY

course. Pretend to be an
 WORKSHOP (big wooden workstation or small plastic workbench, athlete training for
goggles, plastic tools, aprons/hard hats/construction costumes, the Olympics!
wheelbarrows, wheels). TUBES AND BALLS (small balls (ping-pong, golf,
wooden, etc), painter’s tape, cardboard tubes). Tape tubes on the wall
to create a vertical ball run.
 MOTION
MUSIC AND MOVE  LASER MAZE (yarn or crepe paper, tape). Tape crepe paper (or yarn) 11c. solves problems
from shelf to shelf to create a maze. Invite children to climb through
without breaking the crepe paper. Children must use
problem-solving
skills to maneuver
through the maze

 PASTA CRUNCH (round pasta, hammers, stools). Smash pasta with 9a. uses an
hammers. Describe the textures, sounds, and effort used, record. expanding
LIGHT TABLE/SENSORY

 MAGNET SORT (magnet wands, assorted metal materials, rice). Use the expressive
magnet wands to search for objects hidden in the rice. vocabulary
 LIDS + TONGS COLOR SORT (assorted bottle lids from beautiful junk,
tongs, hanging baskets with color labels, tension rod). Use tongs to pick Describe textures,
up bottle caps and sort them by color into hanging baskets. sounds, and effort
used in Pasta
Crunch.

 SPAGHETTI (spaghetti, tall jars, trays, blocks, cardboard, playdough, 3. participates

Styrofoam). Present trays with spaghetti and jars; thread pasta into the cooperatively and
jars and dump out. Extend by introducing blocks. Experiment with constructively in
building bridges and sticking the pasta into playdough and Styrofoam, group situations
placing cardboard on top and testing how much can balance there.
Connect to the principle that materials are stronger when many work 6. demonstrates
together (i.e. weight distribution). gross-motor
 DRAWING WITH FEET (butcher paper, tape, crayons). Tape paper to a manipulative skills
low wall. Invite children to hold crayons or markers with their feet, lay
on their backs, and draw. Extend PAINTING WITH FEET (drop cloth, paper Intentional
plates, paint, towels). Invite children to roll up their pants, step in the movements (holding
SPECIAL EVENTS

paint on the paper plates, and paint on the drop cloth. CAUTION: avoid onto an object with
purple and pink, which stain skin and tile longer than other colors. an unfamiliar body,
 BALL PAINTING (medium bouncy balls, drop cloth, tape). Drop paint onto like feet and toes,
drop cloths taped to the ground and then bounce balls on the drop cloth and manipulating it)
to splatter the paint. Every action has a reaction -the ball hits the paint as well as exploring
and moves it, spreading it around the drop cloth. new textural
 CAR DRAWING (cars, markers, tape, butcher paper). Tape markers to sensations (paint on
cars and paper to the table; invite children to drive the cars around the feet).
paper to leave a trail of marker. Extend CAR PAINTING (cars, butcher
paper, paint, paper plates). Invite children to dip their cars into paint
pooled on paper plates and roll them onto the paper. Extend RAMP
PAINTING (cars, cardboard ramp, paper, paint). Pool paint at the top of
the ramp and invite children to send their cars down, bringing a trail of
paint behind.