Hi, I'm Efrain, and I work at a large urban preschool.
So where did your water go?
EFRAIN: I teach in a classroom with Kelly and Becca.
Where do you see water and sand?
EFRAIN: We have 20 children
between the ages of three and four.
Boy, that's big!
EFRAIN: And we're exploring water.
It sunk.
EFRAIN: We have a wide range of children in our preschool.
They're different ages, we have different backgrounds,
and they come to us from all sorts of different experiences.
I put the cow in the water.
EFRAIN: So we always offer a wide variety
of science activities to ensure there is something fun
and appropriate for every one of our children.
One of the most exciting activities in our water unit
is making rivers and dams outside.
Here we go, guys!
The children immediately started making channels in the sand
for the water to flow through.
They ended up creating many different areas to work in.
We allowed them the freedom to use these areas
however they wanted.
Some worked in a larger group building dams
or floating boats down the river,
while others quietly played alone or with a friend.
All of this activity was a bit overwhelming for one child.
Do you want to go see
what kind of boat we're going to make?
You want to help me?
EFRAIN: By spending some one-on-one time with the child,
we were able to encourage him to join his classmates
in making a stream.
Are you going to put them in the stream?
EFRAIN: When we were back inside, he remained interested
and engaged...
I'm making a dam.
EFRAIN: ...while we kept our eyes on him
and continued to support him when needed.
Do you think it's going to sink or float?
CHILD: It's going to sink.
EFRAIN: It's going to sink.
So let's try it.
Let's see.
It sunk to the bottom.
See that?
Yeah!
Yeah.
I see it in the water.
EFRAIN: We encourage children to explore independently
at our learning centers
so they can find their own entry points
into the science we are exploring.
I'm making a big bubble.
EFRAIN: As they are playing, my co-teachers and I look
for opportunities to check in with individual children.
What are you doing, Isaac?
It rained on your hand.
How many pennies do you think my boat can hold?
Maybe all of them.
EFRAIN: Sometimes we gather small groups
and do guided activities together.
So what does it need, higher what?
Higher walls!
EFRAIN: Higher walls, but what do the higher walls do?
Water doesn't get in.
EFRAIN: Good job.
We will often group children at similar stages of development
so they can explore at a level that is comfortable
and appropriate for all of them.
Whoa!
EFRAIN: Whoa, how many pennies did that hold?
20!
EFRAIN: It takes some extra work to find ways to challenge
and engage all of the children.
Water?
Water!
But the effort that we put in has such a huge impact.
It's big.