Jordan (3.11yrs) ‘The Skip Truck ’

1. Jordan(3.11yrs) ‘The Skip Truck’ Jordan approached Sue who was stacking blocks in the block area, and asked “ What are you making ?” Sue replied “I’m working out how to use the trucks and the blocks together, would you like to join me ?” Jordan replied “Yes, I’ll have all the skip trucks.” Jordan looked into the basket of trucks and carefully selected one, “There’s only one !” Jordan began to move the trucks around the ‘roadway’. Sue asked “What does a skip truck do ?” Jordan replied “Well, let’s find out ! ” He drove the truck along the mat and said “They pick up skips.” Sue responded, “I see….they pick up skips…. I’m not sure….what are skips ?” Jordan replied “The’re big bins.” Jordan picked up a small round block and held it up for Sue to see, “These blocks can be the rubbish. I’ll show you how it works.” Jordan provided the following monologue to accompany his play actions, “Park the truck , put the skip down , put the rubbish in.” Jordan continued his play and drove the truck along the ‘road’. Sue asked “Where are you going now the skip truck is fully loaded with rubbish ?” Jordan replied “It takes it to the dump. At the dump he tips the rubbish out… pours it out…then it goes back and carries more rubbish.” Jordan’s focus returned to his play. He resumed his verbal monologue. He picked up a small square piece of block, “These ones might be the right shape , we can put these in here… no they are too big.” He picks up the round block and replaces back into the back of the truck. He continued “Sue… see here …. ( he pointed to a hole in a cardboard cylinder)…you put the rubbish in here… (he reverses the truck up to the hole and tips the block in)…the machine churns it up….(he grasps the cylinder and rocks it from side to side making a ‘chhh’ sound) …..and it makes it into new rubbish ! ....See !” Jordan stood and walked to the shelf. He looked at the shelf contents and returned with two thin sticks. Squatting next to the cylinder he resumed play “These are the levers to lift it up …like this….(he places sticks on cylinder sides and lifts the cylinder up slightly) …these are special machines.” Jordan repeated this part of his play, “See these special machines…see what they do…they put the rubbish in and pull it out the other side…brumm, brumm.”

2. Ryan(2.10yrs)“ I’m a builder.” Ryan joined Sue who was sitting on the floor in the block construction area. He began to push items off the shelf. Sue watched Ryan. When Ryan looked up, Sue asked “Ryan,have you got an idea ?” Ryan responded confidently “Yes I have”. Sue asked “Would you like to tell me about your idea ? , I’m interested to know how you will use all these things…….” Ryan replied “When I’m finished. OK ?” Sue nodded, smiled, and sat , waiting for Ryan to indicate when he had finished. Ryan continued until he has pushed all the items off the shelf. He began to re-position some of the wood blocks which were now part of the pile of equipment next to the shelf. He said “The bricks are falling down”. Ryan stood up and began to look around the room, as he was about to step away Sue asked “Ryan, what were you going to do with these bricks?”. Sue pointed to the wood blocks that he had just moved. Ryan turned, stepped back toward the pile of equipment, and replied “I’m going to build them !” Sue suggested “Let me help you.” Ryan squatted down and grasped a block in each hand. He stacked the blocks, directly on top of each other. Sue passed Ryan another block which he placed on top of the others. As he did this he said “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall with bricks, the old one fell down”. Sue enquired “What do we need to keep the bricks from falling down this time?”. Ryan looked at Sue, “Don’t know” he replied and stood up and walked away.

3. Chelsea (4.7yrs) " Dinosaur Bones " Chelsea: “Look Mum, I’m making the city where the Dinosaur bones are ! What’s that city called again?” Mother: “Oh…I can’t remember….mmm” Chelsea: “It’s that city in America.” Mother: “I know the one you mean but I can’t remember the name….I’ll remember in a minute..” Chelsea: “It’s ok – it’s a different city with lots more bones !”

4. Caelan (4.5yrs)‘The Wetland’ Caelan (4.5yrs) and Jordan (3.11yrs) played opposite each other in separate sandtrays. Caelan picked up a water-spray bottle and began to spray a fine mist over his sandtray “It’s very wet here…like the ‘wetland’.” Jordan enquired “What’s a ‘wetland’ Caelan ?” Caelan replied “It’s a wet place,” and pointed to his sandtray “See the frogs and crocodiles, they live in the wetland.” Caelan continued a monologue as he moved a crocodile Around his sandtray “This wetland is in the north – that’s where crocodiles live.” Jordan who had been watching and listening to Caelan returned to his play and began to jump a frog around his sandtray saying “Jump, jump….” Caelan picked up the water-spray bottle and as he sprayed the water over his sand tray he said “It’s raining, raining everywhere.” This is a picture of Caelan and his ‘wetland’. In the bottom corner of the picture you can see the tail of one of the crocodiles who live in the wetland.