Empty space, drag to resize

Creative Fire - Assignment Instructions

Key Goals

  • Choose a topic in the category of science
  • Use the fun loop to design an interaction
  • Use the fun loop to induce surprise
  • Encourage creative interpretations and artistic outcomes
  • Inject the A into STEM

Collaborate in-person (or on-line) with colleagues.
After your brainstorming session with colleagues, you can finish your planning on your own.
Implement your plan, and submit your reflection about the fun loop and its outcomes.

You will use the Creative Fire Worksheet when you are planning (it is an editable PDF).
Follow the steps below
Empty space, drag to resize

Collaboration

If you are the only person In your centre doing this course?
You can approach your centre manager and/or the room leader to seek support.

The centre manager or fellow teacher could:
  • Share their perspectives on how to apply the new idea
  • Support you in the planning
  • Help you determine the best time to apply it in your usual program


If you have other colleagues doing this course?
You can work with your colleagues online (using the learning platform chat, or video conferencing) or in-person

Your colleagues could:
  • Share their perspectives on how to apply the new idea
  • Support you in the planning
  • Help you determine the best time to apply it in your usual program

Assignment Logic

Working through your assignment is very simple and familiar.
You follow the planning cycle!

Observe an Interaction

Follow a real play situation while comparing it to the fun loop
You can make a video recording of an event if you wish and review it, or observe in real-time.
You will be required to collaborate with your colleagues, and observe which elements of the fun loop happen.

Assess the Interactions

Write down the things in the environment?
What caused the element of surprise?
What predictable situations switched off their attention?
At what point did you see that 4th step reward - do it again!”.

Design a New Interaction

Use the Creative Fire Worksheet.
Consider the knowledge you gained in the assess phase.
Begin to design a small interaction, something that is science related.

Note: you are focusing on fun, creativity, and art!

Provide a balance between intentional teaching and guided play read more about guided play
Use the fun loop to guide your design and manage the emotional kick in the learning.
As a group (in-person or online) brainstorm creative ideas.

How can you animate the EYLF outcome 4.1 using the fun loop?
In particular the key words in bold.

EYLF Outcome 4.1:

Children develop a growth mindset and learning dispositions such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity.
Empty space, drag to resize

Design Guide

This guide is designed to help you animate the key outcomes using the fun loop.

EYLF Outcome 4.1:

Children develop a growth mindset and learning dispositions such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity.
1) What objects are in your environment?

2) What do the children know about those objects, and what don’t they know?

3) What they do know falls into the category of predictability

4) What they don't know falls into the category of a potential surprise

5) Focus on what they don’t know, the surprise.

6) How can I surprise them with a new interaction?
7) What comes before the surprise?

8) What happens after the surprise?

9) I want the surprise to motivate them to do it again, the reward!

10) how can i fluctuate between predicability and surprise?

10) Ask, what does "this event" look like? Children's interpretations will often reveal metaphors or similes, that is, creativity.

11) How can we take the effects from a science experiment and create art?
Note: After your brainstorming session with colleagues, you can finish your planning on your own.
Empty space, drag to resize

Inspiration

We know how hard it can be to generate ideas for STEAM.
So we have provided you with some inspiration.

Some of these examples may seem really advanced, however you can take the basic idea and apply it in your own way.

Remember, STEAM experiments have two dimensions.
1) A scientific part that involves observations and testing.
2) An artistic part that is metaphoric and/or expressive.
Empty space, drag to resize

Action Your Plan

Simply do it!

Reflect on the Outcomes

This is where you look back on how the fun loop influenced the learning outcomes and the 
learning dynamics. Then copy your reflection and paste it when you submit your assignment.
When you submit your assignment, you will need to upload images or videos of your work (please do not include children's faces).

Be sure to have your Creative Fire Worksheet ready.