Scientific Progress Goes "Kerplunk"

Kerplink, Kerplank, Kerplunk:

Physics in the Trees Classroom

"Are you READY?"

Our blocks area has been transformed!



If you strip away the fantastic city that is currently rising, you will find five basic elements: 

• ramps
• hollow blocks
• doubles
• grip strips
• and, of course, a roller! 

The children have been working to create marble runs!  If all goes well, all of these elements work seamlessly together to carry your marble from the beginning to the end without upset, after which you get an exceptionally satisfying "kerplunk" into the green bucket waiting at the end. 

But oh, so many things can go wrong along the way. 

The level of the towers, the slope of the ramps, the amount of grip under the ramps to prevent sliding, the placement of the walls to prevent the marble from escaping as it turns a corner. 

There is so much to fine-tune, test, adjust, and discover! Gravity, slope, weight, resistance, movement. 

In a word, physics.

Before full marble runs were introduced, the children conducted experiments on single ramps with different types of rollers. Which shape rolled the best? Why? Which weight rolled fastest? Why? How did a shallow or steep slope affect the roller? Why? These questions were posed and the children worked hard to uncover the answers. This prepared us to build.

As the children's work became higher, more elaborate, and more independent, the teachers saw that accomplishments in physics were just the beginning.

Children were making a plan.

Children were listening, as well as watching. 

Children were predicting.

Children were asking, "Why doesn't this work?"

Children were fine tuning their work.

Children were enjoying challenges and not tiring, even after multiple failures.

Children were building strong partnerships through working together. 

Children were encouraging and congratulating each other for their work.

Children were responding with awe and joy — celebrating when, at long last, they experienced success.

Left: (Wait for it...)     Center: "GASP!"     Right: Happy foot shuffle!

Left: HUGE HUG!    Center: Gazing in wonderment
Right: Happy foot shuffle + FIST PUMPING!

The children were reflecting on their work and putting what they did into words. 

... the list goes on. 

Ramps & rollers in blocks has been so popular, we even opened up mini-marble-rollers on the nest! 

Think back to the 'Twenty Habits' document (You know how I love to remind you of it). The work of the children reminded me of this list, and I began to wonder just how many of these twenty habits were being used in this one work area. 

The answer?  

A full twenty out of twenty habits were being represented.

Frankly, this very challenging work. And not only for preschoolers. This work would present real and frustrating challenges for much older children. Constructing a track which has the marble turning a corner alone, is something that takes an incredible amount of forethought, organization, and awareness. 

... As the Marble City continues to rise, the children often take a moment to run the marble down and enjoy the rolling the roller down the ramps. 

We invite you to the Trees Classroom blocks area as well, so you can kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk!