Tuesday, October 21, 2014

A Lesson from Slow Slime

This morning we made slime (the kind with borax) and coloured it purple.
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I set out a tray of materials for the children to use with the slime.  Over the summer I collected silver containers for display. I like that they are different heights and sizes.
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     But the lesson came when one child joined the table.
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The boy on the left joined the table and proceeded to take the slime out of the container.  I suggested he pull it out with his fingers but he continued his way and this is what I discovered.
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I started taking pictures of him as he began to shake the container.  After I made my suggestion I was going to leave but something in his expression made me stick around and continue to take photos. 
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Watching I thought he didn’t want to touch the slime but then I realized he was taking his time and exploring the slime in a different way then the other children. 
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He was patient and curious, noticing how the slime changed from a solid to a dripping form.  How, as he continued to hold the container upside down, the slime started to stretch and become thinner until it finally plopped on to the table.
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From him, I learned to slow down and take my time.  I remembered this lesson shortly after as we were cleaning up.  Sometimes I can rush through activities and be careless but I slowed down and focused on each task rather than bustling through each one.  I felt much calmer after and ready to move into our next activity.