Kindergarten have been inquiring into the central idea, ‘Products go through a process of change before they are consumed or used’. To start the unit the boys were given a provocation in which they had to categorise and group a range of products. A healthy discussion ensued as each group explained their grouping and related thinking. This also led to some wonderful questions being posed for our class ‘Wonder Wall’.

We had great fun exploring where products come from. The boys loved looking at a variety of products, reading where they were made and then finding the country on the large world map, placed in the classroom.

A range of picture books was used to explore the concept of change, with a favourite being ‘The Gingerbread Man’. Following the reading of this text we thought about what would have happened if the Gingerbread Man had swam across the river instead of jumping on the fox’s back. We then used a real Gingerbread Man and put him in some water to test our theories. We observed him over a 10-minute and 30-minute time frame and recorded our observations.

Following this activity, the boys participated in a design thinking challenge, in which they were required to build a raft to help the Gingerbread Man cross the river and avoid the fox! Their raft was to be made using pipe cleaners and straws and needed to hold a Lego person for 10 seconds without sinking. Lots of fun was had!

To gain a further understanding of how products change the boys experienced a variety of hands on activities such as damper and butter making. The boys learnt to create flow charts to show the process products go through and they were also exposed to procedure writing.

To explore the last line of inquiry, which looked at the development of resources into finished products, the boys were given a challenge of making a toy for a boy or girl of a similar age to themselves. The first step of the making process was to look at the materials available to make the toy. They then drew a design of their toy, showing the materials that they would use. The last part of the process was the making component.

It has been exciting to see the boys start to think about products, where they come from and the process of change.

Belinda Smallhorn – Kindergarten Teacher