Features

Enabling Environments: Let's explore ... Rotation

Let the ideas go round and round the nursery with activities and resources for following a natural interest, suggested by Diana Lawton.

Young children can be observed in nursery settings exploring rotation and circular movement in many different ways - with their whole bodies, with finer movements in 3D work and graphically. A child may become absorbed by things that turn, such as taps, wheels, cogs and keys. They may rotate their arms, roll themselves or balls along, construct objects with rotating parts and reproduce circular movements in mark-making. A pattern emerges that is repeated in different areas and situations.

Children's own individual experiences from their homes and cultures will often provide starting points for an exciting learning journey. Discussions with parents and carers will give a picture of how the interest is manifesting itself away from the setting. By tuning in to a child in this way, adults can intervene sensitively. Initially this might be through showing interest and enthusiasm, through conversation or suggestion, and by playing alongside.

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