Short-term planning: Case in point

In the first of a series on short-term planning, Jane Drake shows how to further children's learning by building on observations of their play. Here she looks at how one boy's interest fostered his mathematical development

Observation in setting

Ryan (aged four years and three months) was delighted to find a camera case in the cupboard and presented it with excitement to his keyworker Sheila saying, 'This can be for your camera.'

Sheila then gave Ryan the camera so that he could try to put it in the case. After several attempts to try to fit it in, he realised that the case was not nearly deep enough to accommodate the camera and declared, 'This case is so flat - we need to find a much higher one.'

Later in the session, Ryan was observed playing with construction equipment, trying to make a car like the one his friend, Majid, had built. Majid showed him the component that he needed to make the body and Ryan said, 'I can find a long one like that... then I want a corner one for the driver chair... that goes on top... my dad's the driver. Now I need wheels... round and round and round... Have you got some round ones?' As he asked this question, he made circular movements with his index finger.