Using the natural materials that we had brought in including sticks and moss we started to make a mini tree which turned into a mini forest, creating a space where some children absorbed themselves in imaginary and mastery play. We introduced insects and animals and small worlds were created where children played together and on their own picking up, copying and taking further ideas that they had seen.
Step 3
The spaces became larger, placing sticks in pots of sand and making a forest in the room. The children started to use the space for role play; camping, building fires and cooking.
‘Fire comes out of the dinosaurs mouth, only grown ups can touch it.’
Putting sand on the bonfire – why? ‘It’s called ‘Maleklan’ We have to mix it, it’s our dinner. We’re cooking fish’
Resources:
• sticks, moss, leaves and other objects collected from outdoors
• toy insects and other small world play
Ideas for further exploration...
• explore further the idea of miniature worlds and how we interact with them
• make opportunities for mastery play – a child’s exploration of the world around him where he has control, experimenting with the idea of death and destruction and the consequences of his own actions, rebuilding...