We finally have a website and it went live today!  Thanks for all the support and interest, we can't wait to promote PLAY!

www.tinkeringprojectvt.org

"Mud kitchen's" Gallery

"Mud pies are a natural and memorable part of every childhood.  It’s a simple activity that is packed full of learning concepts including, velocity, density, volume and capacity while at the same time providing so much for the child who craves sensory experiences.  Setting up a mud kitchen provides dramatic opportunities to enhance social and language skills.  Explore with us how to set up even the simplest mud kitchen in any playground that will provide creative and meaningful experiences that are long lasting."  -Bienenstock

The Homestead Part 2 childcare center South Burlington VT

Back yard Mud Kitchen 

                             




Davis Studio

Pop-Up Play Event

In collaboratoin with Pop Up Adventure Play I hosted a "Block Party" for my neighborhood to ring in Summer Solstice.  For the culminating event I closed down a section of a street here in Burlington VT.  With approval from the city (Police and Fire Departments) I gathered materials to flll the large space I had to work with for children through adult age to gather and play! It was 2 hours and maybe too short as everyone was just getting into the play.

My hopes and dreams were to have a huge black plastic tunnel but it was the logistics of timing and getting it to the site without a large vehicle.  I also had hopes of filling the street with people and the space felt big for the amount of folks that gathered.   The flow up and down the street was great productive and hit all materials!  

I anticipated the summer flow being slow and hard to reach but with 12+ children 8-10 adults it was a success!  More adults needed to come play!  Children were inspired to have a lemonade stand, donation based and it didn't matter if you had any $ ( we traded popsicles!) stump and loose 12' board as teeter totter was strong and held 4 (7-15 yr. olds), stacking, hiding, climbing, canvas and paint, making a house with a box, mask making, bubbles, plastic tops/caps; sorting, dumping, music, color...

With volunteers, the work load is fun and exciting.   Interest and investment from community makes the idea of play a crucial goal to support learning and free play.

 

  

  

Mud Kitchen for The Homestead Part 2 childcare program VT.  

Can't wait to get a photo that is clear and close ups of all the details, but couldn't wait to share.  

Open for exploration and investigation through free play in all weather and seasons!  With edible plants such as mint and strawberry, lemon balm and more.  Supplies children can explore include but are not limited to the natural collection of rain water and sand.  Using loose parts children create rich learning AND play.  REAL kitchen tools like funnels and measuring cups/spoons, buckets, and a tea kettle for pretend or real.  While exploring movement, volume, scooping and pouring as well as using a pulley to play with weight and balance.  A wooden spool is ideal for a table with stumps or child sized chairs will add the final touch.  To be continued...

"Mud Kitchen"

(Before)

One of my favorite ways to incorporate loose parts into children's outdoor spaces!  Here is before shot, stayed tuned for the final.  From a pallet, drift wood, scrap wood and a coat of paint and real materials, this will inspire such rich free play.  An array of skills used such as fine and gross motor with buckets, funnels, scoops, a pulley, dramatic play and the shear draw and joy of playing with the elements of the earth.

UVM (Childrens Campus School "loose parts" workshop during leadership week)

"Loose parts" advocacy with UVM educators

What are loose parts?  Where did this theory come from? How do you collect, sort, organize, incorporate in environments, observe, assess, reflect?  What systems do you have to implement learning and play with "loose parts"?  How do you teach others the mess is the learning?  It's about the process and not the product.  Who is accountable?  How do you document and make visible the learning that is happening?  Is it a reciprocal process?  

             

Loose parts celebrate all learning styles and can influence ALL areas of learning.  They should inspire learning, wonder and curiosity, are gender neutral, and most often FREE.  Artistic creations with letters, smooth stones, recycled bottle caps, tile samples, wood parts, floor samples, window blind samples...

  

                                          

Ribbon offering a multitude of possibilities...weaving, measuring, sorting, sensory, texture differences.

    

                          

          Symmetry, balancing, magnetic; parts used to experiment with the properties of the "parts."  Teachers manipulating weight, size, textures.  Tinkering with interesting and quality materials sparking an inspiration to forge the way!