Recently, the children have been finding and exploring ramps and inclines at kindergarten.
Our outdoor environment provides a fantastic natural incline in the form of the small grassy hill. The large grassy area of our playground also provides the children with the freedom of space to enjoy lots of movement.
Several things come rolling down our hill, sometimes it's trucks, sometimes the black barrel, and sometimes it's the children themselves.
But this week it's been tyres.
Several things come rolling down our hill, sometimes it's trucks, sometimes the black barrel, and sometimes it's the children themselves.
But this week it's been tyres.
During ramp or incline play children are exploring scientific concepts like cause and effect, measuring, and predicting but especially experimenting.
Fortunately for us, our hill is uneven so the children get to experiment with direction as some of the tyres veer off to the sides of the playground. Sometimes the hill unbalances the tyres and they tip over stopping their journey prematurely.
The children also get to experiment with different sized tyres and the forces required to move them. They try different strategies to get them up the hill.
They drag the tyres...
Fortunately for us, our hill is uneven so the children get to experiment with direction as some of the tyres veer off to the sides of the playground. Sometimes the hill unbalances the tyres and they tip over stopping their journey prematurely.
The children also get to experiment with different sized tyres and the forces required to move them. They try different strategies to get them up the hill.
They drag the tyres...
They roll the tyres...
And they force the tyres up the hill!
And they force the tyres up the hill!
The children are also exploring physics concepts such as speed, distance, motion, and force. When the children are rolling the tyres on flat ground they are learning about using force to push the tyre along.
Children tried different strategies to push the tyre and keep it upright, some pushed it from behind while others pushed it from the side...
Children tried different strategies to push the tyre and keep it upright, some pushed it from behind while others pushed it from the side...
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| "I can't do it, it keeps wobbling" said Kendall-Lee |
...And some found a quicker and easier way to move the tyres...
Getting the tyres up the hill proved to be a real challenge for some of the children. But perseverance, patience, and a little bit of teamwork paid off.
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| "Help, my legs are getting tired", said Jacob |
Once on top of the hill, the incline reduces the amount of force needed to roll the tyre.
"Whether skipping rocks on a pond or sailing a disc through the air or sending a bead through a pipe, there is something of beauty in setting a thing in motion and watching it go" Jason Avery.
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