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Group Learning Experience Planning Sheet:

Student Name: Jessica Edwards Course Code: ECS4070

Age Group: 4 to 5 years. Date: October 3rd, 2017


Learning Experience: Science, Think and Inquiry Activity- Orbeez Sorting and Patterns
Programming Purpose:

On a previous placement day I conducted an experiment with the students in the


classroom where we grew orbeez water beads in different liquids. The children enjoyed using
the orbeez as a sensory material after they finished the experiment so I wanted to create an
activity where they could have a chance to play with the orbeez again, but spend more time
able to use them, rather than waiting for them to grow. Out of all of the types of activities I
have prepared over all of my years of university I tend to stray away from math related
activities, so I wanted to create an orbeez activity that can help students practice important
math skills. In a discussion with my placement supervisor about science and math skills that
are important for kindergartens she suggested sorting, and creating and identifying patterns
among other skills. I decided to use orbeez as a tool to create an activity where the children
can sort the orbeez by colour so they can be used as a tool to make simple colour patterns.
Objective:
The children will:
1) Engage in sensory play using water beads and other materials.
2) Practice social skills related to discussing ideas, turn taking and listening skills.
3) Practice math and science skills related to classifying objects, sorting and discussion
of different properties of the ornes water beads such as size and translucency.

Materials:

Orbeez Water Beads


Paper Plates
Paper
Ruler
Markers
Cleaning spray
Paper Towel
Set Up:

Planned Implementation

1. I will fill place a bowl of pre-grown orbeez on a table in the math or science area of the
classroom.
2. I will label ten paper plates with the names of colours on their rim using corresponding
colours of marker ink. This includes the following colours:
a. Red
b. Orange
c. Yellow
d. Green
e. Blue
f. Purple
g. Pink
h. Black
i. White
j. Clear or Colourless
3. I will invite the children to the table with a question: Do you remember when we
grew orbeez for our experiment? Do you remember how many different colours of
orbeez there were?
4. I will model picking up a small handful of orbeez and placing them one by one onto
the plates that correspond with their colour.
5. We will continue to sort the orbeez until they have all been sorted.
6. I will create a simple two colour pattern using two different colours of orbeez, as a
behavioural model for the children participating.
7. I will then begin a discussion surrounding patterns. Questions I may use can include:
a. Have you ever made a pattern before?
b. What type of pattern do you see here? Can you make a pattern with two
colours?
c. What other types of patterns can we create with our orbeez?
8. After the children have discussed patterns, we can continue to explore patterns by
creating our own.
9. After each child has completed one or more patterns we can discuss our patterns and
compare them.
10. After we have concluded our discussion, I will place the orbeez back into the bowl of
water and set it aside.
11. I will dispose of the paper plates and clean the table area using paper towel and
cleaning spray.
Learning Strategy #1
Questions
While the children are participating in the activity I will use questions to promote discussion
and to invite the children to try sorting the orbeez, or creating different types of patterns.
Examples of questions for this activity include:

_____ what colour of orbeez are you looking for?


Which colour of orbeez has the most in their plate so far?
What type of pattern did you create? How could you change it, or add to it to make a
new pattern?
Learning Strategy #2
Sensory Engagement

While the children are using the orbeez during our activity there will be a variety of ways in
which the children can use their sense to explore the materials and help to classify them. This
includes using the orbeez as a tactile sensory material and using our vision to identify the
colours of the different orbeez. The children are free to use the orbeez for open ended use at
the same time we conduct our sorting activity and this allows them to explore them as a
sensory item with all of their sense.

Overall Evaluation
What worked during this experience? Why?
What did not work during this experience? Why?

What might you have done differently?

What theory might you use to support these changes?

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