How to Make Worms

26 February 2012

The teachers are sweeping the playground and observing the children’s play as they work. A group of children have gathered in the corner at the bottom of the garden. Sitting in a circle under a tree they are engrossed in what is going on.

A boy, 5 ¾, is crushing stones on a big flat stone and the others are watching with deep concentration. Different sized stones are placed on the flat stone for crushing.

“This one’s too big”

says the boy and another, smaller stone is placed on the flat stone. When it begins to crumble another boy calls out

“YELLOW!”

and the others echo in wonder. And yes, who would have known that inside a dark stone the colour yellow would be found?

The boy who is crushing needs water and a younger boy volunteers to get some. He finds a red bucket and runs to the water butt, but it hasn’t rained for days and the butt is empty. He meets the older boy who has gone to get a bigger spade, and tells him that there is no water. The boy tells him to try inside the half barrel.

The younger boy looks, but the barrel has been filled with stones, and the bucket doesn’t fit to get to the water. The older boy takes the bucket and finds a small cup that fits between the stones, scoops up the water and empties it into the red bucket until he has enough.

The other children are discussing the activity.

“We are making worms” says one boy,

“You crush stones and worms.”

The teacher is taken aback but before she can reply another boy responds, in a voice full of his amusement at his younger friend’s naivety.

“No, we don’t crush worms”

The teacher is relieved, but the boy continues

“We crush different coloured stones and slugs and that is how you make worms.”

A four year old girl agrees

“Yes, that’s how you make worms.”

The teacher scans the flat stone and is glad to find no slime or any other evidence of possible crushed molluscs.

The power of imagination and free play

Play provides challenges to be met, problems to be solved, relationships to be established, different materials to be used creatively and difficult situations that needs solutions. Play also provide the opportunity to pretend to be someone else and at the same time experience someone else’s feelings. This fosters empathy in the child, allowing them to explore and organise their feelings in a safe and manageable environment.