Cool Explorations With Found Materials

I thought it would be a good idea to follow my Cool Explorations with New Materials post with this one because sometimes what gets in the way of moving forward is that we don't have the materials that others do. For one reason or another, this can be why we hesitate to try something new.

In reflecting back, I can identify times when I've had similar thoughts in my own teaching career.  What I realize now though, is that there was always a reason other than not having the 'right' stuff that held me back.  Those times I have truly been ready to make some shifts in my practice, I found a way to do so, regardless of what I 'didn't have.'  It might have required creativity or thinking outside the box about how I could navigate the obstacles but in the end, there was always a way to make things work.  

What is important to know about this rethinking learning journey is that when Sam and I started inquiry learning, we did it without any of the materials you saw in the Cool Explorations with New Materials post. (These came much later, following the approval of a grant application we had submitted).   Instead, most of what we originally offered the students for exploration were found materials.

We picked through school storage, art and supply rooms, collected bins full of recyclables and gathered any and all materials that might possibly spark student curiosity and creativity. We gathered old technology for a 'tech take-apart' centre, old film canisters, jars, wood dowels, old paperbacks, calendars, yarn, empty tape rolls and other odds and ends that had been packed away because they might be useful for an art project some day.  

We also made a trip to the Dollar Store to buy a selection (but a limited one) of other supplies (tape, tools, glue guns, clay, etc).  The most commercial materials we had available were lego and k'nex.  

Keeping a good collection of supplies and materials available is something we have been able to do because we have learned to look at things we come across through a new lense. What we may once have thrown in the garbage or recycling, is now suddenly more valuable and can often be added to our classroom collection of beautiful things. Cardboard boxes, packing materials, bread clips, bottle lids, old marker lids, pieces of ribbon and buttons are a few examples of these 'beautiful things' (inspired by Beautiful Stuff.)  What we've learned is that almost everything we find has the potential to spark a new idea or be useful for the further exploration of an already-existing curiosity.  

Check out some of these explorations using found materials:

These boys were were completely hooked by this old computer.  They spent days taking it apart and exploring it further to see how it worked and if they could make it work again.

Every single item on this table is created with found and supply room materials.  No special items needed for exploring these curiosities!

This roller coaster was built using only popsicle sticks.  Standing 45 cm tall, this is an amazing structure.  The girls who build it were so excited about it, they took it home on the weekend to paint it in the back yard.

This Grade 4 student explains how this lift works- which was created using only found materials.

These Grade 4 students describe how they created a bird's nest and scene after being inspired by rescuing a bird at home.