Making Ideas Visible: The Magic of Materials
By Melanie Akins
“Materials live in the world in multiple ways. They can evoke memories, narrate stories, invite action, and communicate meanings. Materials and objects create meeting places. In early childhood education, we gather around things to investigate, negotiate, converse, and share. Materials- a block of clay, pots of paint, a brush, a colourful wire, a translucent sheet of paper, a rectangular block- beckon and draw us in. Materials are not immutable, passive, or lifeless until the moment we do something to them; they participate in our early childhood projects. They live, speak, gesture, and call to us.” -From: Material Encounters by Sylvia Kind
As the atelierista (or studio teacher) at PPPK, I get to witness the magic of materials every day! Every child is curious and creative, communicating in many different ways. I’ve learned that children are experts at expressing their ideas and theories through materials. They are natural researchers and radiate confidence when exploring unfamiliar media. Their eyes light up when they’ve made a discovery.
Teachers are given opportunities to work with materials together because it is important for us to learn a material's properties and make discoveries as well. We want to formulate intelligent hypotheses together and imagine the possibilities a material can offer. It is about living the processes that the children will be living in the classroom and in the atelier. We get the opportunity to face the challenges that materials sometimes create. Experiencing materials in this way prepares teachers to listen to the children. Because the children will offer new ideas and possibilities, we didn’t even think of!
My favorite thing about using materials in the atelier is their ability to form and enhance connections. Not only do materials help children connect with the world around them and make sense of it, but they are also amazing tools for connecting with others! This year’s Atelier Exhibition will be highlighting the rich connections materials can foster.