Learning to use scissors

Four year old Layla-Rose has drawn a picture and wants to cut it out. She's finding using the scissors difficult and needs some support.

Good for looking at

• COEL - Active learning
• Practical skills
• Tool use
• Fine motor development
• Motivation
• Persistance
• Effective practice/pedagogy

Four year old Layla-Rose has drawn a picture and wants to cut it out. She’s finding using the scissors difficult and needs some support.

Notice

• How is Layla Rose learning? Which areas of development, engagement and characteristics of learning can you observe?
• In what ways does the adult support Layla Rose’s learning?
• What is valuable about the materials provided?

Reflect

What are your thoughts about:

• How Layla-Rose was communicating?
• The characteristics of effective learning that Layla-Rose was using to complete a difficult new task?
• Layla-Rose’s level of motivation to persevere with her task?
• The role of the adult in this interaction – how did she support Layla-Rose?
• How effective the environment and materials were?

Respond

What would you do to:

• Support Layla-Rose’s effective learning strategies?
• Encourage Layla-Rose to talk about how she is learning?
• Model behaviours for young children and show how useful they are?

What next:

• Do you need to encourage more of this kind of creative exploration in your setting? How can you make sure the activity is safe enough if children are using sharp tools?