The Extended Day Inventors

The imaginations of children are really amazing things, and the things that they come with and create each day are really astonishing. Whenever we have free play during Extended Day (and I'm sure during the mornings as well), you can almost always find the children finding new things to use, create, build, explore, and imagine wonders with.

I decided to utilize this creativity and imaginative play and do it in a slightly more structured way. 

I was also interested in experiencing just how different each and every child's mind and imagination works. 

I prepared a few different bags each filled with the same exact variety of supplies- from pom poms and googly eyes to straws, umbrellas, and bubble wrap. The children were paired up and then given their bags full of materials, and left to see what they could create, invent, and build.

When they received their bags, they excitedly began to take out the supplies and started to create.   

Some chose to lay out all their supplies, and some chose to only take out only what they were using at the moment, but they all got right to cutting, taping, and 'inventing'.

You are really able to see the individuality of each child, and how each child, while given the same exact materials, came up with and created completely different things. 

"Morah look at my new invention!" was heard many times, said with such excitement and joy as they came running over to proudly show us what they made (as can be seen in some of the photos.)

Whether it was a "feather launcher"

A "Shovel"

A "Person"

A "windblower"

A "Broom"

An "Instrument"

An "Airplane"

A "Present"

A "Bracelet for Mom"

Ilan proudly showing his invention to his sister

After dance class, the girls joined in on the action, and they too used the materials to create their own inventions. 

How amazing to see they beauty of the mind of the child, what it can come up with with just a few random materials, and how very unique each child and their imagination really are. 

It starts with these 'small' inventions- but who knows what it can grow to become as your child and their imagination grow even more! 

Have a wonderful Shabbat! 

Morah Leah Lew