the light table

The light table hasn't been a big draw for the children for a while... it's just been there and has not really been used... so i thought I would start playing with it a little to see what would happen... and of course children came to the table...
I changed some of the materials as i could see that the children could not create with them the way they wanted too... so geometric shapes and hair curlers came out instead...

I also feel that the table that the light table sits on is not ideal... but this area is still very much under development, and I know the table is temporary, but it can be part of the reason why the table has not been used so much... it does not allow for good collaboration... it has a slightly 8 form which means one child can get that bit closer to the table and gets a very central role... this means that children on the edges feel a little frustrated and give up after a while, leaving the one child to play on their own... and some enjoy a spot of individual play, but most are wanting/needing a more socially interactive play.

I also see how role-play is central in their free-play at the moment... so it might be time to recreate a small world play area on the light table again... to see if that will encourage more play... OR to simply move the light table into another room for a while and allow the geometric shapes to form patterns in a different location... to be honest, I am thinking this latter idea might be the better of the two... will have to check where all the outlets are located...

the geometric shapes came out first... I saw there was an interest in both creating patterns/shapes and also in mixing colours. I also so one child lacked the co-ordination skills to create patterns as they kept bumping each other out of the way.., whci is why i brought out the curlers too...

curlers are fun as they do have a kind of velcro like sticking quality AND they feel so great in the hands...