La Cocina Lindsay Jacoby TTE309 Benchmark: Play Center

Rationale ▪ Exploring Mexican culture ▪ Introduction to Mexico unit ▪ Free-exploration and use of materials ▪ Experimenting with something new, different ▪ Exposure to Mexican culture ▪ Family use of Mexico books – in-class library ▪ Family survey ▪ My Case Study Child ▪ Eating, cooking, gardening ▪ Family meals

Layout of the Center Purple = items, objects, setup Blue X’s = children, participants, observers Blue arrows = movement of children, participants, observers

In the Center Materials ▪ Sombreros ▪ Mexican-themed plates, dishes, bowls ▪ Blow-up saguaro ▪ Fiesta decorations: pictures, papel picado banners, chili lights, table toppers ▪ Mexican Afghan ▪ Mexican play food ▪ Clipboards and pencils Literacy Props ▪ Library: cookbooks, recipes, fiction and nonfiction children’s books ▪ Menus ▪ Order forms ▪ La Cocina sign ▪ Open/Closed sign

Photos of Materials & Literacy Props

What Happened? ▪ My Role ▪ Mostly an observer – children were very engaged with materials and each other ▪ Occasionally a participant – ordering food, eating food, dressing up ▪ Observations ▪ Children loved wearing the sombreros ▪ Even if the Mexican food was put away, children would look for it and want to play with it – connection to the culture ▪ Most children enjoyed having writing materials in the center to be able to take orders ▪ Engagement with Literacy Props ▪ Obsession with the Open/Closed sign ▪ Trying to read the books in Spanish ▪ Writing, drawing on order forms – actually taking orders and acting as servers

Children’s Voice On March 9, 2015 at 7:30am I heard 7 and 16 yelling my name from La Cocina. I was sitting in the writing center so I walked over to them where they were standing behind the kitchen area each holding a clipboard, pencil, and order form. They asked me, “Miss Lindsay, what do you want from Mexico?” “Hmm, what are my choices?” I asked them. “Taco, quesadilla, burrito.” 16 said. “Do I see flan on the menu? That’s my favorite!” I exclaimed. “Yeah it’s right here!” 7 said pointing to the flan on her order form. “May I have some flan?” I asked. “Of course! We will get it to go for you.” 7 said. “Oh okay perfect I’ll take it with me back to writing.” I told the girls. 16 handed me a plate with “flan” on it and I said, “Thank you, girls” as I turned and walked back to the writing center.

What I’ve Learned ▪ Children are very experimental and exploratory with new materials and ideas ▪ Use of new vocabulary is expressed through play ▪ Play and free exploration allows for risk-taking ▪ Literacy through play isn’t just books! ▪ Observing play – children’s prior and new knowledge

For Next Time… ▪ Changes I would make: ▪ Formally introducing center and materials ▪ Finding the balance between observing and participating ▪ Opportunities to introduce or use vocabulary ▪ Teachable Moments ▪ Photos! Photos! Photos!