 |
Crayons are a significant technology in our centre as they provide many enjoyable learning opportunities for the children to explore and engage in such as creativity, communication, literacy, sharing, and expression. Te Whaariki states that through using technology such as crayons, children gain confidence in using the technology that they are growing up with (Ministry of Education, 1996). Through crayon experiences children develop fine and gross motor skills as they make marks and create drawings. Learning experiences with crayons provides the children with many creative expression opportunities as they explore with textures, colours, shapes, and designs along side with their peers as well as being able to express thoughts and feelings though their drawings. The New Zealand Curriculum (2007) agrees that the use of technology such as crayons can advocate for exploration and development of skills and disciplines. crayon experiences provide many opportunities for language development as children and teaches engage in conversations about what the children have done, asking questions and describing marks. Children begin early literacy stages as they make 'letters' and 'words' in their pictures or stories.
Often, children's art work created by non-digital technology like crayons is shared with peers, allowing for social interaction development and a sense of belonging and contribution as the art work is displayed in our community. Talay-Ongan & Ap (2005) suggest that crayon art is significant to children’s development as they can provide children with unique ways of exploration and experimentation with thinking and seeing new perspectives.In the future, I would love to get the children involved in some new creative experiences with crayons and the effects they can create with different mediums such as using black paper or adding dye over the crayon marks.
Hi Sarah
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of crayons I didn't think they were technology either. after reading you blog I can see how crayons have advanced and how they enhance children's learning.
I can see that your centre is providing opportunity for children to explore there creative side. providing good quality resources enables children to want to engage with these resources. I like how you have explained the different learning opportunities the children are getting form one experience they are not just learning how to hold the crayon they are learning about imagination and personal expression.
I love how you have added on how you can further this experience for the children. I would also like to say if you use Google search you can find many fun create new ways that you can use crayons to make pictures.
overall I enjoyed reading how you uses crayons in your centre and how they are advancing children learning.
Hello Sarah
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reflection you have written, I at first did not think crayon were technology either, but anything human’s beings have made to make life easier is technology.
I really like how in this reflection you have not only talked about what the children can do with the crayons but also what the benefits are from using it. When children have drawn something, I like how teachers get involved and ask children about what they have made and get them to talk about their picture. It shows that you are interested in their work and noticing what they are doing which builds their self-confidence.
I like that you have thought about extending this experience further for the children and have thought of some ideas of how you can. A suggestion would be if you could maybe get the children to create a story book. The children could have different pictures and keep adding them onto a book and tell a story about it and it could continue on till the books pages have finished and at the end of this experience, the children would have created their very own book of stories.
Hey Sarah, great blog about crayons. it's great to see the different technologies being used in the centre. Crayons is one of them that we use everyday and don't realise it as a tool of non technology. I agree with you, that crayons offers opportunities to explore and engage in creative experiences. Using crayons allows for freedom of making his or her mark. I like how you notice what children will gain from the usage of crayons. from a simple piece of crayon, children shape their skills such as fine and gross motor skills. it's important that children are in control of their body and especially their learning.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned about children sharing their work with their peers. socialising can be hard or scary for some children, but if you can build confidence in themselves, then they have confidence in their work.
I love how you want to extend the learning by adding other materials to enhance their learning. really shows your interest in their work and learning. I will keep it in mind when I bring out the crayons. :)
Hi Sarah
ReplyDeleteAwesome reflection written about crayons and the benefits it provides for children. Never did i think something as simple as a crayon would be regarded as technology and would contribute so much towards a childs development. Its great that you have talked about the many advantages of using crayons duch as opportunities for exploration, creative expression and social interaction. Its so lovely watching children create pieces of art and sharing them with their peers, they engage in such meaningful conversations and develop great friendships.
I like that you have talked about planning future experiences with the children involving the use of crayons and other materials.
A suggestion for a future experience could be getting the children to make their own crayons using melted crayons and cookie/playdough moulds. This could be quite a fum thing to do with them