Its interesting to watch the reactions of children when the wind blows or the rain is falling in bucket loads. It’s winter and we dont fear experiencing the elements and infact a large number of children at my centre have a curiosity focused on the wind. Master L and J bring out ribbons to watch them move in the blowing wind. While master J and J. J choose to experiment with the paper darts they had constructed with a teacher earlier in the day. Master O, S and miss O, A and Ar where talking about how the leaves and the rain is blowing. They play a game by taking turns to run out from the shelter of the deck and into the wind and rain.
They were having such a blast that I felt terrible thinking about the possibility of having to bring everyone inside because the rain was starting to really come down.
I looked around inside and notice the art table needed to be reset. It was deserted so I decided to create an invitation for this group of children in mind. I knew that this invitation had to have a focus that included the a wind element.
Resources
Paper, an assortment of poster paint provided on a painting tray, spoons and straws.
The table become a buzz of interest from curious minds hungry to create explore and experiment.
By this time I went and invited the children inside out of the cold weather to create our own wind. Some came along and others choose to stay on the deck with another teacher following leaves that were being blown around on the deck.
Back at the table children had already started exploring and manipulating the assortment of resourses available. The straws were the main focus. Children knew how to use them by demonstrating sucking and blowing skills.
I processed by expaining, role modeling and suggesting what we could do with the straws and the paint to create our own wind.
First we spooned some different coloured paint on the paper. Once the group of children had grasp the concept, they enjoyed the fasinating movement that there blowing attempt could do to the paint on the paper.
We discussed the colours and miss O made a comment about,
Look at my blue and pink im moving them and they are crashing…can I use my finger. – miss A
Mine is moving -master O
I made pink – miss O
The colours started to mix and some childrrn were having more success than others with their blowing. I suggested to take big lung fills of air then blow, this helped with big blows the paint moved further over the page. One thing was for sure. We had discovered we could make our own wind and the effect was moving and mixing the colours; resulting in creating different colours, shapes and patterns.
It wasn’t long and children started mixing the paint with their fingers, hands, the straws, blowing through the straws and one child went and fetched a long handled brush.
The experience started out with the idea to explore and experiment with wind, which was fasinating and amazing to discover as our own bodies were able to create enough wind to move the paint across the paper to make our colourful artwork.
We discovered so much more including mixing colours and evaluating the result, finding patterns in the shapes thst we were creating, how each of us could make our own experience individual by sharing different and open ways to be creative. By the end of the experience we were using big flowing arms and hand motions to move the paint over the paper and across the larger table space and at the end we created shapes when we removed the paper from the table. This was a surprising twist to our hour of discovery and spark discussion about shapes especially the difference between a square and a rectangle.
Children that have the opportunity to explore open experinces in an environment that is easily accessable discover their own abilities to be creative knowing their ideas and contributions matter and are valued.
On reflection - in a world of thought and action 
Criteria 4 “demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional learning and development of personal professional practice”
Key indicator
participates responsively in professional learning opportunities with the learning community
Reflective questioning: What further PD do I need?
I have come to understand that leadership and creating a team environment can be achieved once all are on the same waka moving in the same direction up stream. SO what I have gained from this experience is that all my team have the right to experience and gain the same knowledge through inviting the speakers to our centre to further develop our understandings as a community.