Simple but effective...

Simple but effective…

Children’s work displayed in the dining room area was taken down to make room for new material to be hung. Many, many staples remained which also needed to be removed.

 A asked me “what are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at all those staples that need to be taken out of the wall” I answered

“Ooo, can I help?” She asked

I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea or not as the image of what I was going to use (either a knife or a claw like tool) I thought, was not appropriate for her to use with regards to safety.

  “Let’s go see what we can find to use” I said.

In the office I asked a teacher, G, what and where I could find something to help remove the staples. She pulled two tools from a drawer. They were staple removers I had not used or seen before and after trying one out, thought they were fantastic, easy to use and safe enough for the children to use as well!  A and I continued to remove staples for a small while before B appeared and also wanted to help 

“Have you used one of these before?” I asked

“No” he replied

A volunteered to show B how to use the staple remover. A explained to B how the tipped end was to go under the staple, then the green bit to be slid over the staple before lifting it up and out. Throughout the time they worked together I listened to some of their conversation that included:

A: “are you ok?”

B:  “yep, I’m doing it”

A:  “you do those ones and I’ll do these ones alright?”

B: “ok, but after I get these ones first”

A: “do you need any help?”

 B: “no ”

The two were at it for at least 15minutes and did do a great job!

The staple removing tool, I thought, was pretty cool! I liked its simplicity and how easy it was to use for both the children and myself and the purposeful action of its intent, to remove unwanted staples leaving the surface of the walls clean and smooth and much more presentable for more work to be advertised on. I think this item can be categorized in the technological area of structures and mechanisms which includes a “wide variety of technologies from simple mechanical devices, such as a mousetrap, to large, more complex mechanical devices such as a motor car” (Ministry of Education, 1997).

A displayed confidence and competence when offering and wanting to participate in the removal of the staples and to show and guide B how to use the staple remover. Children experience an environment where they are “encouraged to learn with and alongside others and can develop strategies and skills for initiating, maintaining and enjoying relationships with other children” (Ministry of Education, 1996). B, showed assertiveness in his responses to A which also emitted confidence and competence, in the fact that his answers seemed thought out and decisive and not passive and unreceptive.