Schema. Schemas are patterns of repeatable behaviour which can often be noticed in young children s play. Some easily identifiable schemas are:

Transcription

1 Schemas Children do not all learn in the same way and as educators it is good practice to be aware of the ways different children learn and to support them in their learning. Schemas offer educators a key to understanding the ways in which children behave allowing them to plan for children s interests and needs and matching these to curriculum content. Schemas are patterns of repeatable behaviour which can often be noticed in young children s play. Some easily identifiable schemas are: Schema Transporting Enveloping Enclosure/containing Trajectory; diagonal/vertical/horizontal Rotation/circularity Connection Positioning Transforming Description of possible behaviours Carry bricks from one place to another in a bag, sand to the home corner in a bucket, push a friend around in a toy pram, toys from one area to another in a handbag. Paint their hands, wrap themselves in a cloth, wrap dolls and toys up in a blanket, cover their painting with one colour. Climb into a box, fill and empty containers, build a shelter with blocks, hide under a bush. Drop objects from their pushchair or cot, draw lines in spilt food with their finger, play with the running water, climb up and jump off furniture, line up the cars, bounce and kick balls, throw objects. Spinning around, being swung around, rolling down a slope, watch a spinning washing machine, rotate wheels, draw circles, draw around objects, roll a ball. Join up train tracks, stick tape from one area to another, distribute and collect objects. Lie under the table, put things on their head, prefer their ice cream next to the jelly, lie on the floor. Add juice to their food, sand to water, add colour to mixtures. Although children often show particular schemas in their play, not all children appear especially schematic. Some show one particular schema particularly strongly and others show several at once. Sometimes one schema which has been particularly strong will seem to fade, possibly to be replaced by another.

2 Children whose play is particularly schematic may have particular preferences in the setting for activities and resources: Connection (joining) Schema Child s preferences Train track Construction String Sellotape Enveloping (covering, surrounding) Rotation (circles) Trajectory (straight lines) Transporting (moving things) Dens Things in boxes Envelopes Dressing up Wrapping presents Circle games Wheels Roundabouts Spinning tops Kaleidoscopes Throwing games Woodwork Percussion Football Playing with running water Shopping bags Buggies Trailers

3 Cooking Connection Sequence in recipes Enveloping and enclosure Picnic food Sandwiches, mince pies, pastries, Putting things away Rotation Transporting Trajectory Stirring, whisking, mixing, washing Liquidiser Rolling out pastry Shopping for ingredients Taking things to oven or fridge Giving out food Popcorn Chopping Sand (wet) Pipes Tunnels Sandcastles Filling things Burying treasure and objects Tunnelling Achimedes screw Sand in buckets and trucks Digging Sand (dry) Funnels and bottles Filling bags and socks Filling pipes Collecting in yogurt pots Pipes, funnels Sand wheel Sprinkler Pipes Guttering Trucks Trails Things with holes Pipes Guttering Water Pipes Hoses Bridges Washing things Filling up bottles Pipes and funnels boats Blow bubbles Circular sewing Pom-poms Hose pipes and tubing Pouring Guttering Things with holes Bubbles Pumps Sprays Squeezy bottles Fabric Sawing Threading Weaving Knitting bags Taking turns Sewing Knitting Weavng Role-play Filling handbags Arranging furniture, cushions, bricks etc Filling bags Dressing up Dolls in cots, prams Dressing dolls Blankets over tables Playing post people/milk people Moving house Pulling toys on string Appropriate ways of running, throwing, kicking in role Small world Train track People Cars Layouts Animals Cars and tractors Trains Collections Layouts Cars and ramps

4 Computer Loading Word processing Printing Symmetry Sequencing patterns Printing work Pressing buttons Games and puzzles Dominoes Jigsaws Matching and tessellating games Magnetic fishing Feely boxes Lotto Turn-taking Incy wincy spider Number top Whisper games Snakes and ladders Ludo Throwing dice Snakes and ladders Paint Connection Patterns Symmetry Enveloping and enclosure Borders for pictures Bubble painting Covering paintings Rotation Transporting Trajectory Mixing paint Finger painting Paint rollers Marble painting Carrying paint/water to object Spray and splatter painting Blow painting Squeezy bottle Workshop Sellotape, string, boxes, glue, junk modelling, kits, threading Masks, hats Wrapping up, crowns, tape Putting things in boxes Papier Mache containers or vehicles containers or vehicles Paper aeroplanes Toy parachutes Elastic band Catapults Books books Opening and closing books Graphics Symmetry Calendars Envelopes Writing in little books Letter boxes Repetitive stories and rhymes Round paper Spirograph Going to library, taking books to special places Sending and receiving letters, parcels and messages Rulers Drawing/ writing about cars, planes Small construction Marble run Putting away Houses for things Cog wheels Models with wheels Building and demolishing towers, marble run Large construction Bricks and blocks Burying things Houses for things Cog wheels Models with wheels rockets, fast trains

5 Outdoor play up games Circle games Gardening Parachute games Obstacle courses Hose pipes Burying things Hiding in or under Tents, dens Hide and seek Parachutes Playing in boxes and boats Sprinkler Skipping Hoops, quoits Rolling tyres down hill Wheeled toys Circular obstacle course Trucks for collecting and carrying Road games Suitcase Moving equipment Watering pipes and cans Flags, nets Running, hitting, throwing and aiming games Balls, bats, skittles Music and sound Percussion Headphones Record player Rounds, chants Ring games Taping music Listening and imitating Percussion Malleable Connecting modelling Models with things inside Covering pies and cakes Mixing dough Rolling balls Dough to oven Carrying cakes in egg boxes Garlic crush Hammering and throwing clay Woodwork Nails, nuts, bolts; wood to hammer Investigation Electric circuits Pulleys, pipes and plumbing Microscope Binoculars Bottles, collections Seeds and bulbs Drill Vice Giro scope Cogs Pulleys Wheels Spinning tops Kaleidoscopes things with wheels Collections Pulleys Snail trails Hammering Sawing Catapults Pulleys Rotators Reflection Based on the work of others reference unknown

6