Cork Board Investigations

Purposeful Play with Push Pins

The children have been investigating the cork board for a few weeks now. We placed the cork board on the back of the math and numeracy shelf. Included with the cork board were four tins. Two of the tins have push pins in them and in the remaining two tins are chenille yarn and elastics. I created this invitation for the children to explore and create envisioning the board as a giant geoboard. I hoped that they would not only develop their fine motor skills but also other important learning expectations from the Full Day Early Learning Kindergarten document. It has been that and so much more. Here is a look at some of their explorations.

 

This is one of the first explorations at the corkboard by the children.

Can anyone spy the letter "J" created using push pins?

I asked them to share what their work was

about they said, "It is a celebration for a birthday party."

 



The girls carefully placed the push pins so that they could stretch the elastics

out between two pins. If the tension on the elastic was not just right they would

move the pin and try again until it was just right. What wonderful problem-solving

and perseverance they displayed. They described their work. She said," We are

making connections. Can we sign up for shared learning?" 

 

 

As the children have continued their explorations their work has

gained in complexity of the design. As well, they have become more

intentional in the placement of the push pins when creating a design. They are

using both the chenille yarn and elastics together creating shapes and lines

with these materials. We could also observe their careful planning and

problem-solving as they worked together on the corkboard.

 

They described their work. He said, "It is a big machine."

 



 

Each morning before announcements the children would gather at the

corkboard. They either began a new design if the board was empty

or worked on an existing design. The children would discuss their ideas

and how to best use the push pins, chenille yarn, and elastics.

  This morning something very exciting happened. The children chose

to only use the push pins and the elastics. Then they began to pluck the

elastics. They were so delighted because they discovered that they

could create a sound. They shared, "Miss we made music."

 

The children were so proud of their work. They demonstrated many personal and

social skills as they worked together on their designs. We look forward to many

more explorations with the children at the corkboard.