Ramps & Pathways

STR2EAM Blog 1

What is ramp provocation?

Ramp provocation is to inspire interest in ramps. It provokes thoughts, discussions, questions, interests, creativity, and ideas about ramps. It provides invitations to explore ramps. Finally, it should stimulate children to react by creating bigger and better ramps by thinking about how to build in a new way, trying something different, seeing something from a new angle, or investing their minds in creating something innovative.

                                       

What are STR²EAM concept areas covered in Ramps and Pathways?

The STR²EAM concept covers them building, testing their ramp structures, making adjustments, and trying again until they are successful. It involves moving objects and inclined planes. It also gives the children the to think and be creative.

How can we add the other STR²EAM concepts to promote learning in all areas?

Science can be used to have the children study the speed and momentum of using ramps.

 Technology can be incorporated by watching videos about ramps or documenting the construction of the ramp with a digital camera.

Reading can be added to the concept by reading Roll, Slope, and Slide by Michael Dahi.

Religion the children can discuss how Noah built the ramp for the animals and people to come aboard the boat.

In engineering, children can construct ramps, pathways, loops, and curves differently. 

Art the children can brainstorm and draw what their ramp looks like. 

Math can be added to promote other learning areas. For example, how many blocks did it take to make the ramp? Which car rolled the farthest?

Rate the article by giving it a 1-5 star rating. Justify your rating.

 I rate this article ✩✩✩✩ stars because it discussed the topic of ramps. In addition, it touched on different concepts about young children building ramps and the benefits of doing so. Using ramps to help the children build collaboration skills, language/vocabulary skills, and gross and fine motor skills. 

Then, reflect on the video, Learning STEM Concepts Through Ramp Play.

The children are building ramps to develop the concept of math and science. They make their ramp with an idea in mind and test the theory to see if it works. They are also collaborating with their peers to build the ramps, which helps to build communication skills and cognitive thinking. When the children play with the ramps, they come up with different ways to build ramps, from when they were just on the floor to more complex ramps with hills and loops. This gets the children to think and ask questions to build their learning needs. Enhancing the block area with these types of ramps can increase the way children use the site and be more inclined to construct ramps in the classroom.

Rate the video by giving it a 1-5 star rating. Justify your rating.

 I rate this article ✩✩✩✩ stars because I enjoyed the video. This video builds on to the idea of making ramps more complex by adding hills and loops to the children down sloping ramps. Getting the children to be more creative with building ramps.

Finally, you will critique the activity Discovery Ramp Caddy.

This is a neat carrying and storage ramp caddy. It allows you to store large and small materials for ramps. The children can use this cabby easily with some labeling where materials go. It only needs wheels quickly move from inside the classroom to the outside.

Rate the activity by giving it a 1-5 star rating. Justify your rating.

I rate this article ✩✩✩✩ stars because I liked the products offered for the topic's purpose. And this is an excellent idea for the storage of the ramp material. I liked that the article showed images of the product and information about it. I would have liked to see a video of how the product was used. And what did other users review about the product?