Starting points To combine the use of props and craft activities with the use of technology to develop the children’s story making and story telling to integrate the computer more fully in the setting.
Step 2
Starting the session with the webcam and accessories warm up activities, a nursery practitioner started to use the computer program as well, they seemed to find it easy and was a fun ‘activity’.
Tom then brought out materials for making puppets, lolly sticks, eyes, pipe cleaners, card and sticky tabs.
The children really got into creating their own monsters and people there were a lot of aliens, and some alien fighting!!!
Tom started to use the camera to document them as they were showing good motor skills and working together well. It was easy to get a collection of images and then to label them with what was happening with the older group – they were so interested in building more and more elaborate puppets that Tom just kept documenting and didn’t push them towards stories.
The children were beginning to explore their characters and playing in the space with them at the end of the session
59 Step 3
At an open day focused in the garden, Tom left the webcam set up in the room so it could be accessed without him needing to be there. Children and parents played with it sporadically through the afternoon and about three nursery practitioners also played with the technology.
It’s important to note that sometimes it is less daunting trying something new when there is not an ‘expert’ watching over you.
The children were coming to the web-cam to see their faces after they had been painted. This is an example of combining activities, making the technology seem more ‘human’.
Resources:
• web-cam • ‘2simple’ software • computer or laptop • puppet making materials – lolly sticks, pipe cleaners, sticky eyes, tape and glue etc