Nursery World - Essential Resources: Trajectory Scheme

In the first in a new series about schemas, Nicole Weinstein looks at the key resources for supporting children with the trajectory scheme

The trajectory scheme relates to how objects move through the air, fall and land

Watching glue drip from a spatula, jumping up and down, flying paper aeroplanes and pouring water into containers are all examples of actions which, if done on a repetitive basis, indicate a child’s interest in the trajectory scheme. This is the action where they are fascinated with the way that objects move through the air and land on the ground.

SCHEMES AND SCHEMAS

But why are we referring to it as a ‘scheme’ rather than a ‘schema’? Many practitioners are familiar with schemas and associate them with patterns of repeated actions or children’s fascinations. But the word ‘schema’ was mistranslated in English versions of Jean Piaget’s books. Lynnette Brock, co-director of community interest company SchemaPlay, says the correct translation is ‘scheme’.

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