Observation 5

Date: 11-27-2008
Time: 2:00-3:00 P.M.
Children: Sisters and brother. Girl age 11, Boy age 8 and Girl 4.


4 year old starts this activities by passing out balloons according to the balloons size and the size of the child. The biggest balloon gets handed to the 11 year old, she then looks at the two left and says "I'm the smallest so this one is mine", and then gives the boy the middle size balloon. The children are going to play a game to see who can keep their balloon in the air the longest. Obstacles that the children have to look out for are, one year old mom is watching, coffee table and various toys laying on the floor. All the kids are hitting or kicking their balloon to keep it off the floor. The first balloon to hit the floor is the 8 year old boys. He goes and sits on the couch ans its the two girls playing. The next balloon to hit the floor is the 11 year old. The 4 year old yells "YES I WON" while dancing around the living room.

All the kids decided to go outside after the 4 year old makes the suggestion. They each get their coats, hat and mittens on by themselves. The two girls go to play soccer in the front yard and the boy goes off to do his own thing. The front yard has a hill so the 4 year old is at the top and the 11 year old is in the middle of the hill. The 4 year old kicks the soccer ball down to the 11 year old, she kicks it back up without stoping the ball and the 4 year old copies her and kicks it back. This time the 11 year old stops the ball and then returns the kick. The 4 year old copies her again and this time also stops the ball before returning the kick. The two girls continue to do this for about 15 minutes before the 4 year old grabs a little racket ball and says "Lets play soccer with this ball" after a few minutes and figuring it doesn't work as good the 4 year old picks up a bug net.

The 11 year old asks the 4 year old "What are we doing now"? The 4 year old says "You throw this ball(racket ball) and i will catch it in the net like Sponge Bob jelly fishing". The 11 year old throws the ball and the 4 year old twirls in a complete circle trying to catch the ball. She misses the ball goes and picks it up throwing it back to the 11 year old. She throws the ball a few more times and each time the four year old does the same thing tries to catch the ball by spinning in a complete circle. The 11 year old tells her "That's not how Sponge Bob catches jellyfish". The 11 year old yells to the boy to come throw the ball. The boy comes and throws the ball while the 11 year old hangs onto the net with the 4 year old and shows her how to catch the ball. After about four tries they finally catch the ball together. The 4 year old satisfied she finally was able to catch the ball says she is all done.

All activities are cooperative or organized supplementary play with the 4 year old being in charge. The 4 year old seemed to be in the transition period from preoperational to concrete operational.

Behavior in first activities that shows the 4 year old is using or learning a concept are: When she gives each balloon according to the size of the child and balloon this was showing seriation. When she knew she won.

Second activities, copies kicking the ball. Kicking the soccer ball vs. racket ball

Third activities: The 11 year old was scaffolding when she helped swing the net with the 4 year old. Catching the ball in the net instead of bugs is showing spatial concept.