“A provocation is an invitation that has been responded to because it could not be ignored.”
Diane Kashin
An invitation for learning is an open-ended presentation of materials and objects that has been intentionally curated by an educator in the hopes it sparks curiosity, exploration, self-directed investigation and action by children. Invitations for learning are frequently presented to children in our Reggio Emilia inspired classroom. As part of our science area we have a mini table that invites children to explore different concepts and topics in a more intimate manner. Sometimes the explorations are guided by children's questions and observations about the world around them (e.g., curiosity about insects after finding ants in the yard) and other times these are educator initiated based on my observations of the children's play, curriculum obligations I would like to fulfill, or something whimsical that I want children to discover.
A rich invitation has a few ingredients to make it very inviting and engaging for children. It usually includes - but is certainly not limited to - an object or natural artifact, information posters, vocabulary cards, fiction and non-fiction books, magnification tools (e.g., digital microscope, magnifying glass), writing materials, math manipulatives, templates and writing tools (e.g., pencils, crayons, markers). As children interact with the invitation I sometimes add or remove materials based on what I am noticing about the conversations they are having and the actions they are taking while working there.
Here are some of our favourite invitations. Click on the title or picture to access the materials we have used. This page will be updated as more invitations are explored by children.
This invitation was sparked by children's curiosity regarding giant pine cones that were sent to school by a family. In addition to the pine cone and reflective/magnifying tools, literacy materials were provided to inspire reading and writing. The life cycle of a pine cone, a simple labelled diagram, vocabulary cards and fun stationary beckon children to engage in literacy behaviours. A template of a pine cone is provided for children to colour, and blank paper is always offered for children who would like to draw their own still life art.
No comments:
Post a Comment