Monday, December 30, 2013

Loose Parts on the Light Table

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I love setting up simple invitations for the boys on the light table using just loose parts.  It's simply fascinating to watch how they transform a set of objects into something creative and often, unexpected.  I also see their personalities come to life when they explore with loose parts.  I love to just sit back and watch them explore and learn.  Okay, I may also be taking pictures, but that's usually only for a short period of time...then I just sit and observe.  Then I capture beautiful moments of sibling bonding like this.

Exploring with loose parts on the light table from And Next Comes L

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Light Table Activity for Kids: Exploring with Loose Parts

On this particular day, I set out the following objects: clear plastic cups (they're individual sized applesauce containers from our recycling stash), various colored glass stones, and our homemade colored transparent shapes.

Loose parts on the light table from And Next Comes L

The materials can easily be stacked and layered, allowing the clear cups to light up with different colors.

Clear cups and colored transparencies on the light table from And Next Comes L

Clear cups and colored transparencies on the light table from And Next Comes L

Stacking clear cups on the light table from And Next Comes L

Loose parts exploration on the light table from And Next Comes L

Or perhaps the materials will be used to create faces, like J did.

Using loose parts on the light table to make faces from And Next Comes L

Or if you are K, you will do some "cooking."  And one must simply sample the "food" when cooking.

K exploring loose parts on the light table from And Next Comes L

The boys also used the materials to build colorful towers like this...

Building colorful towers with loose parts on the light table from And Next Comes L

The boys also counted, sorted, scooped, and poured the glass stones, but really the possibilities for play are endless.  That's the beauty of loose parts play.

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Exploring with loose parts on the light table from And Next Comes L