Tinkering, Creation, and Imperfection

Play is Learning: 

Why Tinkering Should be in the Classroom

On Twitter, I came across a post suggesting various TED Talks for educators to view. After viewing a few, I wondered what my students thought of them. I've shown TED Talks before, and we discussed sentence stems for discussion on media. So, the preliminary lessons of just conversations were laid. All I needed now was their opinion, and the outcome was simply the reason why I teach.

After viewing the TED Talk about the Tinkering School, I asked them to turn and talk about what they saw. Here are some quotes I jotted down while I listened in:

• "I saw kids using tools and being trusted to just build and no tests or grades." 
• "I wondered what my parents would let me do at home." 
• "I never thought I could ask to make something from nothing and that my dad would let me!" 

I brought them back together and summarized their thinking. They shared ideas their partner had too during our whole group share:

• "We thought that maybe we could ask our parents to like help us instead of thinking they wouldn't" 
• Another said, "I don't think my parents would let me-" (interrupted by another student) "But, it doesn't hurt to ask." 
• "She said she didn't think her mom would let her because it can get messy, but we talked about how to get around that stuff."
• "My partner said they had a lot of leftover wood at their house just sitting around, so we might try to do something with that in the summer."

Bouncing off of that point, I agreed that summer doesn't have to be a time for them to sit around playing video games, watching TV, or even at a camp. I explained that they A. Should be reading (of course) and B. Not feel bound by a camp or program to be creative and innovative.

I then followed up with a clip that was shared at a staff development meeting earlier this year- Cane's Arcade. Yes, you need to watch it if you haven't...

During the clip, I watched my students fight back tears, smile, and sit in awe of what creativity and a community can do. The clip finished, and I turned on the lights to a silent classroom. I stood at the back of they room and said, "Well? What did you learn from his tinkering?" "Can we do that?!?!" a student shouted. All I had to do was give a nod and the fun started. "Can I use this tissue box? What about those folders you're recycling?" The endless questions and scavenger hunt started on Friday and hasn't stopped since. When students were stumped on how to create something, they tinkered with materials, drew, discussed, and tried again. They did not focus on making the product perfect. No, they only focused on creation, and that type of mindfulness, courage, and authenticity taught me so much about the joy of being a child who can create without self-criticism or perfectionism holding them back. Some leaned on research from their Chromebooks, but when the ideas simply started to flow, they let go and simply tinkered some more.

My classroom is a mess with "junk" tucked into corners and strewn on my counters, and each day, students are bringing in more from both home and recess. Yes, I might have had some kiddos bring dirt they made into clay- ew! LOL! It's fine with me because I have not seen them so excited for a showcase. Granted, they are not on the level of Cane's Arcade or the ones from the TED Talk, but it is a start allowing them to test their capacity in the world of creation. I hope it carries on into their summer and next year in 4th grade. Watching them embrace their gifts of imperfection-courage, compassion, and connection, is truly why I teach.

Tinkering is important. Play IS learning in its simplest form. When a community (neighborhood, school, or classroom) values it, a student's capacity to lead and learn is endless.

NOTE: Their showcase is the last day of school. I'll be sure to post pictures of their creations.
TEKS: ELPS; PS.1.2.C; PS.2.B; SS 3.18A; ELA 3.27; 3-5.2.C; CS1.2.H