Deconstructing Machines

We have been having lots of fun pulling apart an old CD player, a sandwich maker and  a printer as we endeavored to 'see how things work.' Our children have used scissors, pliers and various sized screw drivers to cut, undo, unscrew and disassemble these old machines.

Our boys gathered around the table curiously....Gem said "It looks like a music player." Obi asked "How will we see inside it?" Noah declared, as he climbed up onto the table "We will pull it apart with the tools." Obi said "I've got the lid off, we can see down inside it now." Gem added "I'm going to get these speakers out." Santai observed "There are lots of little screws. The ones at the back are too long."

Gem collected all the screws "I'm going to keep these screws...we could use them to build something." Noah lent right down "It's like a city on this switchboard."

Nathaniel watched Gem, Noah, Santai and Obi work. Gem and Noah passed him screws "Can you put that in our container Nathaniel?" Nathaniel pointed to the sandwich maker "What is that one?" Obi replied "I think you can cook things it in." Santai said "Does it have any screws in it?" Nathaniel picked up the sandwich maker, turned it side ways and upside down "Yep, it has screws!" Santai and Nathaniel started to pull it apart with their hands. Nathaniel said "I can do it now, I've got a screw driver" as he located the screws and began to undo them and add them to the container.

Most recently we investigated an old printer. Our children took their time opening, closing, turning, pressing, sliding and lifting all the different elements of the printer. Gem finally asked "Ok, can we pull it apart now?" Obi added "Let's see how it works."

Noah concentrated as he loosened each screw “See Gem, I got it. Now turn it over.” Gem turned the printed over “There is nothing here, I’ll give it a wack." Santai collected little bits and pieces “This could be a wheel, its spins!” Santai and Noah worked together as Santai held the top of the printer still for Noah to unscrew. Gem said “There are lots of little cords” as he used scissors to cut them. Isadora had a go with a screw driver “This is a bit tricky.” 

Obi, Isadora, Killara, Jules, Noah, Olivia, Santai, Freya, Gem and Seth took their time using various tools to pull apart the printer and closely examine each intricate part.

Our Ambulance Visit

This week we had a special visit from Nick (Matilda and Frieda’s dad). 

 Nick is an ambulance officer and came to our preschool to talk with us about when we should call an ambulance and what number we have to call. We discussed that we don't usually need an ambulance for a 'little hurt' such as a grazed knee. Our children identified that we call an ambulance if we have a 'big hurt' like a broken arm.

         We were very lucky to have the opportunity to have a look inside a real ambulance. 

Some of our children had their hearts traced and were able to see their heart beat on the monitor before it was printed out. Santai looked at his heart trace on the monitor and said “Wow.”

Our children asked Nick many questions as they observed all the gadgets inside the ambulance.  

Nick showed the children the oxygen mask before we ended our tour of the ambulance with a ride on the ambulance bed for some of our enthusiastic children.