See What Children Know
Click on the thumbnail to watch this video inside our video library. In this clip, we observe what appears to be an ordinary game of “Do as I Do.” Upon closer examination, we identify strategies of communication, little signals that Evan gives to Jose, that something is about to happen that has implications for what Jose is to do next. We also see how Jose signals which actions are replies to Evan’s invitation and which actions are his own counter invitations to Evan to vary the next move slightly. And, of course, we see how this game of “Blocks on the Head” represents the shared joy that supports and defines their friendship.
The text that accompanies this video identifies several places where sounds, pauses, and exaggerated actions reveal the body language Evan and Jose use to maintain the social nature of their play. You will see how the social nature of this game crescendos, with the onset of more laughter, clearer invitations to respond, a shift in leadership, and several variations on game moves. Body language, sounds, pauses, single words, claps, eye contact, laughter and smiles are all used with incredible competence by these young boys. No doubt with extra viewings you will see even more examples of their competencies.
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Notes from the Field
Many of you know about the TED lectures online. In browsing the TED lectures recently, we found an amazing video of Arvind Gupta, showing teachers how to embody math and science concepts using found materials, such as straws, paper, rubber tubes, and paper clips. To watch, go to: Turning Junk into Toys that Teach. Arvind Gupta is an Indian toy inventor and popularizer of science for children. Creating simple toys out of trash and everyday goods, he illustrates principles of science and design in a memorably hands-on fashion. He works at the Children’s Science Centre in Pune, India. He’s the author of numerous books available in English, Hindi and other Indian languages, including Little Toys, Science from Scrap, and Science Skills & Thrills: The Best of Arvind Gupta. His Low-Cost Equipment for Science and Technology Education is available as a PDF download through UNESCO. Many of his toy designs are explained in one-minute films.
