Reference no: EM132363937

Class Activity on Descriptions and Interpretations

"Derek and the Dinosaurs"

Read the following observation description.

Derek is standing at the sand table, playing with large plastic dinosaurs. He digs in the sand, burying one of the plastic dinosaurs and a dinosaur skeleton. "This one has been dead a long time," he says, pointing to the skeleton dinosaur. This one isn't dead yet," he says smiling. "I better not bury it yet."
Derek grabs a tiny shovel and pickax and begins uncovering each of the dinosaurs he buried. Is he exploring something about death? He seems to understand that bones are what is left after one dies.
He digs up the large plastic dinosaur and starts putting sand down its big open mouth. "Here, you better eat your vegetables." I'm going to fill you all up with vegetables," he says, filling the dinosaur with sand. "I need a funnel to fill him up." He probably thinks that it will take less time to fill up the dinosaur with a funnel. Derek is an intelligent child. His play is sophisticated.

Now, go back through and put either a "D" at the end of the sentence or an "I" based on whether the sentence is a description or interpretation in red ink.

Ask yourselves these questions:

What does Derek know how to do? Be specific

Does he find anything frustrating? What is your evidence that he might be frustrated?

How does he feel about himself? What clues tell you this?

How could you use this observation to plan for Derek? What does it mean about his development? His interests? Future activities you could plan for him?