Book of the week
Walter's Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood.
Synopsis
Why make an ordinary web when you can make one that's extraordinary? Meet a determined little spider who can't seem to spin a perfect web. Whoosh goes the wind as it blows each web away! But one thing Walter can spin is spectacular shapes and one day he spins the most spectacular shape of all! It's better than perfect - it's a truly wonderful web.
Weekly Activities
Using our book of the week (Walters Wonderful Web) we discussed different 2D shapes with the children and talked about weaving and sewing, what it is and encouraged them to look at what they are wearing that might be woven and sewn. We then encouraged them to look around site at different shapes they could see and see if they could identify any of the shapes in the book (square, diamond, rectangle, circle, triangle).
To make our wooden webs, we started by sawing a disc from a log. We used sandpaper to smooth the wood and then either drilled holes in it to thread some wool through or hammered nails into the disc and wove wool around the nails to create different shapes.
We encouraging each child to talk about how they are going about their weaving, what shape they have chosen to weave and why. For the older ones we also introduced the concept of 3D shapes. We supported children who showed an interest in making their own disk by encouraging them to decide on a shape and to go looking for where the environment might have that shape (a round stone like a circle or a triangular shaped leaf. After the shapes had been made we gave each child the opportunity to use a phone to photograph the woven disk that they have been working on.
Aims and Objectives
Help to form good relationships with familiar adults
Build self-confidence
Learn to share resources
Focus attention and perseverance
Building up vocabulary
Using tools/tying knots
Improve fine motor skills
Use tools safely
Explore different shapes
Make observations about nature
Use technology such a digital camera or phone to take photos of the finished webs
Home Activity
Children often enjoy playing with long strings or ribbons and making and describing shapes. For the activity, provide loops made from string or elastic at least 3m long. They can either be put on the ground or for a more difficult challenge, held in the air by your child. Ask your child to make shapes with their loops and talk about what they see.
Encouraging mathematical thinking and reasoning:
Describing
Have you seen a shape like this before? Where?
Can you see another shape like yours anywhere around the house?
Put your shape near/inside/outside/under another one. What do you notice? See what you can make. Tell me about what you have made.
Reasoning
What if something was different?
What if you had another one the same?
Opening Out
I like your shape. I wonder how you could change it? What would you like to do next?
How about working with some more string?
Can you fit inside the shape?
Recording
Make a drawing or painting of their shape(s) on paper
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