Day Seven 9/20/19:
Today presented some challenges that were unexpected. Another group was working in the hallway, so we had to change locations. Having a bigger space made it tough to wrangle everyone and keep them focused. We reviewed the challenges from the day before. They talked about how they made it "jump" the end of the ramp like a "motorcycle". Cooperation was a little more difficult today. Without having all the same supplies and blocks, they each had different ideas about how the ramp should look.


I quickly realizer that I needed to step back and review our objectives while also allowing exploration of this new space. We also did not have as many blocks as we usually did because we had to split them with the other group. this made them unable to replicate the ramp from the day before, but also created new opportunities for trying different ideas. with these new ideas came the challenge of working together. It seemed they were a little less patient with one another today. The added space also gave them opportunity to spread out and not work together. So, I realized how much the confined space had actually helped keep us on track.

They asked for something higher to use to prop the ramps. I found a box, but they were more interested in the hole in the box than in using it to prop. They wanted to launch the marble into the hole.




They asked for a challenge. I asked them for some ideas of what they might be able to try. they decided to see if they could "jump" the marble into the basket. I found myself asking, "can you be helpful and constructive?" in an attempt to redirect to the task at hand. I asked "What is your idea? Tell me more about it." this helped when I saw a child was frustrated in trying to participate with the group. this gave her and opportunity to share her idea and fit back into the group that was working., One student just wasn't going to work with the group today, so I let them play over to the side so they would not disrupt the others.

They asked if they could have two marbles to run the track at the same time. I gave them another and they played "marble races" and remarked that the marbles "chased one another" on the track.

In working alone, this student came up with some new ideas of her own that she felt she could use again the next day. she said, :"this challenge just wasn't a good match for me. I needed to try something different today."

They used blocks to keep the marble on the upward incline. all in all they did fine, but the change in space and limited number of blocks did limit our time for exploration today. Even with the shorten time they figured out some new concepts based on the limitations presented. Our next steps will be to try to build on the new discoveries from the day.

He decided he wanted to see if he could male the marble jump the ramp and go into the hole on the box. They tried several times and adjusted the ramp, moved the box, and even made the incline higher. However, they ran out of time before they could actually make it hit the hole. They did come very close.