Learning to Fly

Girl in pink hat and dress, with yellow rain boots jumping off small box.

On Friday, May 30, 2025, a group of preschool children located all of the large hollow blocks outside and grouped them together into a pile. JB had an idea to stack three blocks on top of each other “we can make it like an obstacle course!” she explained and cheered. The rest of the children helped to rearrange the blocks into ‘steps’ up to the tallest block to climb on, and placed the extras in a line leading up to the steps so everyone had a place to stand. Bravely, JB decided to be the first one to test out the steps. Tentatively, they climbed up to the top, stood on the edge and leapt off. “That was so so fun!”

Boy getting ready to jump off a small wood block onto the ground.
Boy mid-air jumping off a small wood block onto the ground.
Boy has landed on the ground after jumping off a small wooden block.

Quickly, a line formed with more children waiting for their turn to jump off of the blocks.

Girl about to jump off a small wooden block onto the ground.
Girl mid-air jumping off a small wooden block onto the ground.
Girl has landed on the ground after jumping off a small wooden block.

When it was EA’s turn, they stood at the top of the stack, looking down. The children in the line behind began to chant and encourage them to jump. Instead of jumping forward EA leaned to the side, resulting in the stack falling down with him. “Oh no!” JXD exclaimed. A rush formed to help EA up off the ground, and replace the toppled blocks to begin the jumping line again.

A preschool boy is climbing a small wooden block to jump with arms out like he is learning to fly
A preschool boy is about to jump off a small wooden block with arms out like he is learning to fly
A preschool boy is mid-air jumping off a small wooden block with arms out like he is learning to fly

“Who can jump the highest?” SB inquired of the group after her turn to jump concluded. Conversation rose about how to best jump off of the blocks to ‘fly longer’. Suggestions included ‘bending your knees’, ‘reaching your arms up high’, ‘looking at the sky’, and ‘just jumping like that’.

Boy with a bright blue shirt and yellow rain boots preparing to jump off a small wooden block.
Boy with a bright blue shirt and yellow rain boots is mid-air jumping off a small wooden block.
Boy is landing on the ground after jumping off wooden block.

“We need to float in the air longer,” SB said. “No, we need to fly!” DT replied.
“Why is it flying and not floating?” an educator inquired.
“It’s flying because my arms are out like a bird,” DT explained.
“No, its floating like a balloon does,” SB countered.
“But I’m not a balloon, I’m like a bird!” DT said.

A preschool girl in red clothing is about to jump off a small wood block onto the ground
Girl mid-air with arms out jumping off a small wooden block.
A preschool girl in red clothing is mid-air jumping off a small wood block onto the ground

So What?

  • experimented with height and trajectory as they leapt from the top of the stack to the ground below
  • tested out direction of the jump, either forwards or sideways to see how best to leave the blocks
  • reconfigured the blocks in a way that allowed for experimentation
  • wondered about how best to create the biggest jump and determined the criteria for a big jump
  • discussed the difference between floating and flying
A preschool girl in a pink hat and shirt is climbing a small wood block
A preschool girl in a pink hat and shirt is mid-air jumping off a small wood block onto the ground
Girl in a pink hat and shirt has landed on the ground after jumping off a small wooden block.

Now What?

  • How else can we fly? How can we make our bodies move like birds do through the skies?
  • Create obstacle courses incorporating jumping, agility and balance maneuvers. How can we make it more challenging?
  • Measure the height that children can jump off of the floor. Compare to the height they can generate from jumping off a set of blocks
  • What else jumps? Research and chart the answers
A preschool girl in a pink dress is about to jump off a small wood block onto the ground
A preschool girl in a pink dress is mid-air jumping off a small wood block onto the ground

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