Learning & Development: Problem solving

What you need in addition to choice from general resources:

- a wide selection of large-scale construction materials and recycled objects such as tyres, wheels, planks, guttering, etc

- a selection of horns, hooters or bells

Ideas for presentation

- a card from the Problem Solving bank

- a letter or card from a child in another group

- a phone call

Ideas

- Present the problem to the group of children using one of the suggested stimuli and discuss.

- Discuss the scale of the construction required and look at wheels, planks, joining and fixing systems.

- Let children decide whether to work alone, in pairs or as a group.

- Help them to select from the resources in the construction area.

- Support their attempts using scaffolding and open-ended questions to encourage thinking and talking skills.

- Be available to discuss their progress and give assistance with fastenings, etc if required, but don't solve the problem for them.

- Arrange a time when they can demonstrate their buggies, wheelbarrows, carts and prams and discuss how they work.

Useful vocabulary

base, move, roll, turn, slide, wheels, axle, nut, bolt, pull, push, tow, safe, strong, buggy, cart, wheelbarrow, pram, trolley

Taking it further

- Design or draw the buggy before they start.

- Photograph the process or the finished vehicles.

Then you could

- Build or invent a buggy that can move a few children at a time.

- Make a vehicle for moving bricks, sand or boxes around the outdoor area.

And another thing

Pose problems and challenges out of doors. 'How do pushchairs fold up?' 'Can girls play football?' 'Why don't birds fall out of the sky?' 'How many things can you find that will move down a slope?'

Taken from Problem Solving - Ideas and activities to unlock current topics by Margaret Martin (Featherstone Education, £11.99). To order a copy, tel: 0185 888 1212; fax: 0185 888 1360 or visit www.featherstone.uk.com, quoting NWPROB. Offer ends 29 February.