We have been enjoying a great summer. Attending local library events has become our weekly routine. During one such event there was an announcement for bike decorating contest/parade. "Mom I want to decorate my bike and go for the parade." , declared Nidhi. However Sid was reluctant.
We gathered more information about the event. The main rule to the contest and parade was that the participants must decorate their bikes with recyclables and recycled materials.
I was skeptical about Nidhi sticking to such rules for decorating her bike. I explained to her. "You cannot use any materials to decorate. You should use only recyclables. Are you sure you still want to do it?". The answer was as predicted , "Yes Mom, I want to do it. But what are recyclables?".
What a perfect opportunity to explore about recycling! I could sense that her excitement was more about decorating her bike rather than studying about recycling.
We started by learning what are recyclables. We opened our recycling bin at home and checked what materials have been accumulated. There were lots of plastic water bottles, cardboard boxes, cereal boxes etc. I asked them to find out if there were more materials that we could use in the house that are recyclables.
"How do we know if a thing is recyclable? " asked Nidhi.
We watched a few you tube videos to understand what is recycling and recyclable materials. Then they both went on scavenger hunt around the house hunting materials with recycling symbols on them.
Now with the materials gathered, the focus shifted to planning the decor. Sid had a big vision of building a big cardboard box bull dozer. He tried painting a couple of paper plates for wheels, arranged a few cardboard boxes but eventually gave up on his plan as he found it difficult to implement his vision with the materials he had at hand.
Nidhi was persistent. "I want to decorate my bike with flowers and butterflies!" , she announced. She quickly drew up her vision on paper. How impressive!
She brought the water bottles and thought up of using the bases as flowers. She cut up the petals and attached them to the bases.
They both enjoyed painting the empty bottles and cutting them up into spirals that would be used as streamers.
Nidhi found a cardboard tube which she decorated with felt shapes.
For making butterflies, we got inspiration from coffee filter butterfly craft.
Sid brainstormed a lot of ideas and settled upon robots. I set up a provocation with loose parts to inspire his design. Here is a photo journal of their tin can robots.
Finally, the bikes decorated completely with only recyclables.
Here are the kids at the parade.
This project has resulted in lot of learning. The most important point of this whole project is that it was a totally child led, self directed learning.
1. The twins learnt about recycling and recyclables. They continue to identify recyclables, recycling bins and sort their things to be thrown out into recycling bin and trash bin correctly. What better way to start caring for the environment!
2. They learned persistence. This project presented them with lot of problem solving challenges.
3. They learned to sustain a task for long period. Their typical focus period doesn't last more than a day normally. But tasks of this project was carried out with vigor for over a week.
4. Nidhi has started to present her designs through her drawing representations. Notice how closely her bottle flower resembles her paper design.
5. They learnt about contests, parades and that contests are not only for winning but also for enjoying the process.
What new learning path did you and your child venture into this summer?
We gathered more information about the event. The main rule to the contest and parade was that the participants must decorate their bikes with recyclables and recycled materials.
I was skeptical about Nidhi sticking to such rules for decorating her bike. I explained to her. "You cannot use any materials to decorate. You should use only recyclables. Are you sure you still want to do it?". The answer was as predicted , "Yes Mom, I want to do it. But what are recyclables?".
What a perfect opportunity to explore about recycling! I could sense that her excitement was more about decorating her bike rather than studying about recycling.
We started by learning what are recyclables. We opened our recycling bin at home and checked what materials have been accumulated. There were lots of plastic water bottles, cardboard boxes, cereal boxes etc. I asked them to find out if there were more materials that we could use in the house that are recyclables.
"How do we know if a thing is recyclable? " asked Nidhi.
We watched a few you tube videos to understand what is recycling and recyclable materials. Then they both went on scavenger hunt around the house hunting materials with recycling symbols on them.
Now with the materials gathered, the focus shifted to planning the decor. Sid had a big vision of building a big cardboard box bull dozer. He tried painting a couple of paper plates for wheels, arranged a few cardboard boxes but eventually gave up on his plan as he found it difficult to implement his vision with the materials he had at hand.
Nidhi was persistent. "I want to decorate my bike with flowers and butterflies!" , she announced. She quickly drew up her vision on paper. How impressive!
 |
| Nidhi's Flower Design plan for bike decor |
She brought the water bottles and thought up of using the bases as flowers. She cut up the petals and attached them to the bases.
 |
| Water bottle base flower making in progress |
They both enjoyed painting the empty bottles and cutting them up into spirals that would be used as streamers.
 |
| Painting empty water bottles to make streamers |
Nidhi found a cardboard tube which she decorated with felt shapes.
 |
| Cardboard tube decor with felt shapes |
For making butterflies, we got inspiration from coffee filter butterfly craft.
Sid brainstormed a lot of ideas and settled upon robots. I set up a provocation with loose parts to inspire his design. Here is a photo journal of their tin can robots.
 |
| Sid's Tin Robot Monster |
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| Nidhi's Tin can Robot made with loose parts |
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| Nidhi's Green Garden Bike |
Sid's robot bike is made of a cereal box covered with aluminum foil, paper plates and water bottle parts.
 |
| Sid's Green Robot Bike |
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| Sid and Nidhi at the parade |
This project has resulted in lot of learning. The most important point of this whole project is that it was a totally child led, self directed learning.
1. The twins learnt about recycling and recyclables. They continue to identify recyclables, recycling bins and sort their things to be thrown out into recycling bin and trash bin correctly. What better way to start caring for the environment!
2. They learned persistence. This project presented them with lot of problem solving challenges.
3. They learned to sustain a task for long period. Their typical focus period doesn't last more than a day normally. But tasks of this project was carried out with vigor for over a week.
4. Nidhi has started to present her designs through her drawing representations. Notice how closely her bottle flower resembles her paper design.
5. They learnt about contests, parades and that contests are not only for winning but also for enjoying the process.
"Children make their own paths into the unknown, paths we would never think of making for them." - John Holt
What new learning path did you and your child venture into this summer?
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