Materials
large container
small toys (such as from cereal boxes)
Instructions
1. Assemble a variety of tools. Gather the children in a circle around the preassembled
items.
2. Ask them to look at the items from where they sit in the circle.
3. Choose an item and talk about it, focusing on the function of the item. For
example, if you choose a hammer, you might say: "I would use this tool to
pound nails into walls. From the other end, I might use it to take nails out of
the wall, too. Maybe I could use it to pound on a rock to break the rock into
smaller pieces. Does anyone know what the name of this tool is?"
4. Choose one child to find an object to discuss. Tell the child to take a moment
to look at it carefully.
5. First offer to have the child describe the tool as you did the hammer. If the
child is quiet or resistant, ask probing questions, such as, "Where do you think
you might use this tool? Is there something else you might use with the
tool? What do you do with this tool?"
6. Give all children in the circle a chance to choose a tool and explain its use.
7. After all children have had a turn within the circle activity, place the items in
an area of the room that will become the garage sale.
8. Encourage the children to pretend to go shopping at the garage sale. One
child will be the seller, and the rest of the children will be the buyers. They
enter the garage sale, look around, and approach the seller with questions
about a particular object. Again, guide the children to focus on the function
of the tool.
