On Tuesday June 29, frozen blocks of ice were introduced into the toddler playground. One child said that she would “break the ice to rescue the animals inside”. She crouched down and used her right hand to hold the ice, moved her arm up and down from the elbow in a hammer motion and hit the ice on the concrete. After 5 times she stood up and lifted the ice straight above her right shoulder. She quickly crouched down, swinging her arm forwards until the ice hit the concrete. “It worked!” she shouted and began to collect the shattered ice pieces.

She then picked up another block of ice. “This one will break too,” she commented.

She stood upright, held the ice block in front of her body with both hands, extended her legs with locked knees and pointed toes and released the ice as she swung her hands up above her head. The ice travelled through the air before it landed on the concrete. When it hit the ground it broke. “I did it! The bear is not frozen anymore!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So What?

The child engaged with the process of breaking the ice was able to recognise that there was more than one way to achieve the end goal, and waiting for the ice to melt wasn’t going fast enough.

She employed the use of her entire body when she stood on extended legs and threw her arms above her head. This was showing that she could maximize the force needed to break the ice.

This child demonstrated that she is physically active and confident in her growing abilities (HDLH, 2014, pg. 32).

She experimented using trial and error methods to break the ice; first when she hit it like a hammer and then when she threw it in the air.

 

Now What?

Let’s experiment with a sink and float experience using bowls and other containers along with found objects; how many will float? How many will sink?

We can also make ice in different sized containers. How long will it take to freeze? Which will be the fastest? What is ice made of?

After the ice has frozen, let’s thaw it out: what is the best way to do so? Is there a spot in the playground where it will melt faster? How else can we get the ice to melt? Let’s record how long, and what method was used.

Perhaps we can drop the frozen ice, or other objects from different heights to see what will happen. Will they bounce? Break? Land? Roll?