This document provides details for a classroom activity involving playing games with balloons. The activity aims to teach children scientific concepts, fine and gross motor skills, and teamwork. It suggests filling balloons with glitter and playing catch, shaking balloons as shakers, or making music. Variations include drawing letters/numbers on balloons or using different materials inside. The document also provides guidance on inclusiveness, safety considerations, and linking the activity to other areas of learning.

1. Approaches to Childhood learning – Class activity Record Sheet
After every class Activity write into the record sheet. Add photos throughout the record. 15 records min required for portfolio. Add lots of images to illustrate your understanding.
Name__T O’S
Date:
13/11/14
Week number:
11
Attended:
Yes
Name and image of the Activity
Play with Balloons
Materials used:
Glitter, Balloons
Time plan:
Set up 10min
Activity 20min
Clean up 5min
Room and/or equipment requirements:
Move obstacles out of the way.

2. General Aim of activity – What will the final outcome be? ie. ‘To make an aeroplane with cardboard’ box.
To play games with balloons
Specific Learning outcomes of the activity – What will be learned by doing the activity? Ie. ‘To use fine motor skills using the scissors’
Children will learn scientific concepts such as electricity and gravity.
They will learn to use fine motor skills when they are putting glitter in the balloon.
They will learn gross motor skills as the will be moving there body to keep the balloon in the air.
Steps for making or doing activity:
Use images with short captions
To make a glitter balloon
When the balloon is non-inflated add glitter to the inside of the balloon.
Inflate the balloon and tie.
Play with the balloons games such as catch, making music by making shakers.
How will the child/ren benefit from the activity?
The children will benefit as they will develop their hand eye coordination.
Along with learning about the concept of gravity, electricity and inflation.
They will learn how to make music using the balloons
They will learn teamwork when they play catch with the balloons.
The children could also learn about floating if u placed the inflated balloon in water.
They will learn about rhythm if you get the children to shake the balloon with the glitter fast and slow and by after they throw the balloon they clap their hands.
They will learn about tonality such as what balloon is quieter or louder by shaking a big or small balloon with the same amount of glitter.
The children will learn about colours and letter and numbers by getting the children to call out the colour of the balloon and a number or letter if there is one on the balloon.
The children will also learn about flying.
Age group/s: (development level)
Three and over

3. How would you make the activity more inclusive? Principles of universal design
You could make this activity more inclusive as if it is a child that is afraid of banging balloons you could provide the child with earmuffs.
If the child has a visual difficulty you could allow the child to make noise and feel the balloon.
How would you adapt the activity to suit outside/inside?
I would adapt the activity to inside by creating an open area free of obstacles.
I would adapt the activity outside by using bigger balloons and spacing the children out more. You could also use water balloons outside.
Simplify this activity:
You could use rice instead of glitter. Instead of using balloons you could use a soft ball or bean bag
Variations for the activity: How could you vary the activity? ‘Marbling using foam or egg whites instead’
You could draw numbers or letters on the balloons and the children would have to call them out as they catch the balloons.
You could make it a rule the children aren’t allowed to touch the balloons using their hands.
You could make music using the balloons such as after they throw a balloon they have to clap their hands.
You could use also use different materials in the balloon to see which make the loudest or quietest sound.
You could use water balloon outside.
If it was safe you could use helium balloons.
The Learning outcomes linked to Aistear
Exploring and thinking Identity and Belonging Well-being Communicating
Eg:
Aim 1; 1,2,3,5,6
Aim 1; 3,4,5,6
Aim 1; 4,5,6
Aim 1; 1,2,3,4,5,6
Aim 2; 1,2,3,4,5,6
Aim 2; 1,3,4,
Aim 2; 1,2,3,5,6
Aim 2; 1,2,3,4,5,
Aim3; 1,2,3,4,6
Aim3; 1,2,3,4,6
Aim3; 1,2,3,4,6
Aim3; 1,2,6
Aim 4; 1,2,3,4,5,6
Aim 4; 1,2,3,4,5,6
Aim 4; 1,2,3,4,
Aim 4; 1,2,3,5,6
Other curriculums: Montessori, HiScope...
Montessori
This activity links with Montessori as she believed children learn through movement and through their senses. In this activity children will use their senses of touch, sound and sight. She also saw the importance of children learning literacy, science and numeric concepts.
Reggio Emilia
This activity links to the reggio Emilia curriculum as Malaguzzi believed curriculum should be built around visual and expressive arts.
Steiner
This activity links with Steiner as he believed strongly that children were allowed to experience both arts and science. He believed that song, story and movement was the best way to develop literacy. He believed strongly on combining music with movement.
High Scope
This activity links to High Scope as the main belief is children learn by beingactively involved in working with materials, people and ideas.

4. Safety concerns? If any
Is there a risk of chocking on small parts-
To minimise the risk keep the children supervised at all times and don’t let the children blow up the
Balloons if they are under eight years of age.
Risks of loud noises- to minimise provide the children with ear muffs if they are frightened of loud
Noises.
Could the activity link to an external activity/group/ outing? ‘Visit to a farm/forest to see/do….’
Yes as you could decorate the balloons with paint using the colours they saw on the trip.
You could also link the activity to a trip to a library if the children saw books about balloons, colours,
Floating, electrify and gravity.
Extensions for the activity: Could science, geography, history, culture, literacy, maths etc, be incorporated into to the activity? How? What changes would you make?
Yes the activity could link to science and maths as the children can learn about electricity, gravity,
Inflation, floating and numbers.
The activity could link with music as the children will learn about tonality and rhythm.
The activity could link to geography and culture by the children learning about what cultures use balloons and the children learning about hot air balloons and the weather.
The activity could link with history and literacy by the children reading about the invention of balloons and storeys that use balloons. They could also learn their letters using balloons.
I would make changes to the variety of colours and materials you could use along with the balloons.
Interactions with children: talk about…. Talk with your child about what they are doing. This will help them understand the physical and mental processes they are going through as well as giving them the vocabulary to describe it. "Look at how the paint splatters like that"
You could talk to the children using phrases such as look how high the balloon is. You could use vocabulary such as high, higher, highest, low, lower, and lowest to describe the height of the balloon. You could talk to the children about rythm by asking them how quick they can shake the balloon.
You could talk to the children about gravity by asking them what could happen if the drop the balloon.
You could say the persons’ name you are passing the balloon to.
You could also talk to the children about electricity if they are old enough to understand.
You could also talk to the children about tonality so the children learn new words such as quiet quietest, very quiet, loud, noisy, very loud and loudest. The children may also ask you the practioner questions.
You could do a risk assessment of the activity with the children.
You could ask the children their reflection on the activity.
Problem solving element? Make your child aware of the problem solving involved and ask them questions as needed to help them work out problems themselves, eg. "Why isn't the paint coming out now?", "Is the straw reaching the paint when the bottle is tipped like that?", "How could you fix that?"
You could ask the children question’s such as which balloon is bigger which lead the children solving the problem of size.
You could ask the children how to put glitter in a balloon and let the children decide which way is best.
You could ask the children if a balloon floats and then put the balloon in water.
You could ask the children which balloon will make more noise a small or big balloon and try it out.
You could also help the children when they ask you the answer to a question to help them solve it.
You could ask the children to try keep balloon in the air which may result in the children using their entire body in the activity.

5. Evaluation of activity: What did think of the activity?
I liked this activity as I found it challenging to come up with new games with my peers. I liked leading and activity and I found that this activity would be very beneficial for children as they learn a lot of new ideas such as gravity, inflation. I also liked the way you could incorporate music into the activity while also using art and movement. I also found this activity fun and inventive as the activity went along as everyone can come up with a new idea to make the game more challenging. I also found it difficult to find books that used balloon games.
Additional information: (images, books, articles, video links, websites etc.)
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/326511041708934594/
http://mylifeandkids.com/30-awesome-halloween-games-for-kids/#_a5y_p=2445577
http://tshort23.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Effectively-Teach-Hand-Eye-Coordination-to-Early- Elementary-Students

6. http://utah.todaysmama.com/2013/07/16/water-balloon-games-12-splashy-backyard-activities/
http://movingsmartblog.blogspot.ie/2011/10/in-defense-of-reading-with-your-fingers.html?m=1
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/80642649549156857/
http://www.babble.com/home/10-indoor-activities-for-kids-this- winter/?cmp=SMC%7Cbbl%7Csoc%7CFB%7CMain%7CInHouse%7C012913%7CPhoto%7C%7CfamE%7CSocial%7C%7C/#balloon-volleyball

7. videos
The Balloon Song (for learning colors)
Toddler World TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr3jtrXc_hU
the abc balloon song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtiMJlLzbZk
Children's song: Balloon song-big balloon small balloon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKxEpzYiWIY Water Balloon Song ( Giant ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsb8c3vKpDQ
Summary of your personal learning in points (at least 4) from doing the activity;
 I learned how to lead an activity.
 I learned how to incorporate music into a balloon game.
 I learned how important space is in an area.
 I learned how difficult it is to get people involved in an activity.
 I learned how to motivate people to join in.