La CocinaLindsay 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 VoiceOn 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!