There is an ice cream shop in the lower level of the classroom playhouse. Kids are now taking turns to be workers and customers, but the whole process to create the shop was enjoyable and full of skill building work. (This week’s newsletter format is a little different in that we have used a combination of photos from both groups in order to illustrate all aspects of the project.)
On a Monday, JK kids helped us make signs to indicate that the area was “under construction” as we worked to create the play scheme and the materials needed.
“STOP NO PEPL OPEN LATER”
They really needed to block off all the small spaces, something teachers hadn’t planned on.
During group time, both groups listed what they know about ice cream shops, what we need to make an ice cream shop, and what we might do when we play ice cream shop.
We have a collection of ice cream shop props at school, so we showed the kids that we have some of the things they listed: cups, scoops, and money, for example. We needed their help making cones, ice cream treats, sprinkles, and decorations.
Colorful foam clay for so many ice cream treats!
Sprinkle-making materials.
Making ice cream cones.
Sparkly fringe to decorate the sign hanging at the entrance of the shop.
Worker: “This is the menu. Can you read it?”
Customer: “No, I cannot read it.”
Worker: “Neither can I.”
A teacher suggests, “You could look at what is available to offer to customers.”
After a few moments, this shop worker is able to decode a few items written on the menu and uses the V in vanilla, for example, to determine how much he’d like to charge for a scoop of vanilla.
Customers may make several purchases in one trip, something some kids didn’t believe possible.
We have limited play to two customers and one worker. The space is small, and play can get confusing or frustrating when a scheme like this is complicated by too many players too soon. We may loosen the reins a bit as children have some experience in the roles.
Exchanging money is a big draw for some kids. We’re using simple paper money from monopoly, in denominations of 1 and 5.
An off-menu order of fresh squeezed orange juice in an orange glass.
Many customers are very precise in their orders, down to the color and shape of the cup they’d like. Some shop workers are open to this and some are not. It’s an interesting exercise in flexibility, delaying gratification, and/or negotiation.