What is a "Provocation"

What is a provocation? Simply put provocations provoke. They provoke thoughts, discussions, questions, interests, creativity and ideas. They can also expand on a thought, project, idea and interest. We set provocations up when we are planning for a child and to extend an interest. (Racheous)

The following photos are a collection of provocations set up by teachers to inspire children's thoughts, imagination and creativity.

What do you see? "I think I have found one Tracy, these ones are the same". said (Waituhi)

"Um I think I can see some the same" - said Lachlan

Te Whariki - Early childhood curriculum states "All children will be empowered to learn with and alongside others by engaging in experiences that have meaning for them. This requires kaiako (teachers) to actively respond to the strengths, interests, abilities and needs of each child and, at times, provide them with additional support in relation to learning, behaviour, development or communication".

Natural provocations with stones, shells, wood and sticks are great for extending children with a interest in patterns or art, or for promoting creativity.

"Its a bit tricky - but I can balance these stones"  said (Alanni)

"I can do this Tracy " - said Waituhi

"There minds were not built to sit and be taught. They were built to explore, play and learn" (Anonymous)

"Oh look at me Georgia - what am I"? said (Caden)

"I will show you something Noah" - said Abbie"

"Look what I have made" - Manaaki

Sometimes a provocation will come in with a child. On this day Lily brought in some fish that she had caught with her dad and it was set up out side for the children at look at and cut open as Lily was curious to know what was inside of a fish.

"I think I can see the eyes"- said Georgia

 "Really not sure about this" - thought Hunter and Georgia

 "I can do this" - said Caden

 "Oh that's disgusting" - said Caden

 "I can see it's teeth" - said Asher

"I just eat fish, I don't touch it cause that's gross" - said Maia

A car provocation was set up to extend our children who have an interest in car games.

This also provided the boys with the opportunity to be creative, when art might not be one of their interests.

Play dough is a lovely sensory provocation that invites children, sparks the imagination and creativity. Its a nice time for children to build relationships and to share information with one another.

"Observe and listen to children, because when they ask why? They are not simply asking for the answer from you. They are requesting the courage to find a collection of possible answers".        (Loris Maleguzzi)

Balance in the Early Years

Last term I wrote about the tamariki exploring balance through building block towers. To continue and further extend upon the notion of balance, the tamariki have been encouraged to explore balance with their bodies.

Balance underpins almost all that we do yet we are born with no balance at all. The vestibular system is responsible for our sense of balance. We develop and learn about balance through movement - different kinds of movement experienced in many different ways.

The obstacle course provides opportunities for the tamariki to balance their bodies through varying levels of challenge. The obstacle course offers a variety of different mediums for the tamariki to balance on: narrow planks, wide planks, tyres, and the log, some of them close to the ground, and some of them higher off the ground. The tamariki get creative with the way they move, some even getting down to use all four limbs to help them balance to stay on the obstacle course.

Other ways in which our tamariki stimulate their vestibular system and develop their balance is by hanging upside down, and rolling. Hanging upside down is a definite favourite and the tamariki try hanging off the monkey bars, the wobbly bridge, and the swings.

"Developing - and automating - a strong sense of balance, orientation, motion, and gravity is a mandatory prerequisite for children's overall development and readiness for school" (Connell & McCarthy, 2014)

The hill in the playground outside provides tamariki with the perfect slope to roll down. It's almost as much fun as hanging upside-down. And everyone has their own way of rolling...

At kindergarten at the end of the day we sometimes play a game of 'stunned mullets' with the tamariki, where the aim is to lie as still as you can for as long as you are able. We use it as a gauge, to see who has developed a strong sense of balance, but more importantly who we need to encourage to move more.

"The highest form of balance is stillness. But children can't learn to sit still by practicing sitting still... Sitting still is one of the most advanced demonstrations of vestibular maturity, and the vestibular system is developed through movement. If you want a child to learn to sit still, you've got to let him move" (Connell & McCarthy, 2014)