Trains are a BIG deal at our preschool right now. Why? Well it all came about when a father provided the ‘provocation’ by donating a box of out of date train tickets from his work. They were placed in a tub in our ‘Inventions Corner’ for the children to discover. While many children began to carry them around, deciding that they were tickets for the movies, a day at the zoo and the like, they really resonated with R. R is a little boy who has come to us as a refugee from Burma. He is quickly learning to speak English as an additional language and his joy and enthusiasm are irresistible, drawing the children toward him. R’s family don’t have a car and they do much of their travelling on public transport, so R recognized these tickets straight away. He suddenly became the ‘knowledgable one’ in this instance and began to build a train by sourcing our large outdoor blocks.

Once he had built the train, he used his ‘improvised’ loud-speaker to let the children know that the train was about to leave the station. Immediately, he had a large group of willing passengers. But of course, they did need to purchase a ticket. R had set up a ticket stand with cash register at the front of the train for passengers to purchase their tickets. J took on the role of ticket seller and K became the ticket inspector, checking that all passengers had purchased a ticket. R joyfully drove the train into the city, then on to Queensland.

C took responsibility for controlling the lights and R sounded the horn as he passed him by.

Ticket sales where constant throughout the day.

On arrival at preschool the next morning, R went straight to work constructing the train within our tunnel. He informed us that it was going through the city-loop (the underground in Melbourne, Australia).

Again, the children joined in, seeming to appreciate R’s superior knowledge of the Melbourne railway system and learning from him.

And the next day, a different location.

During the week, I ventured into some of my favorite ‘opportunity Shops’ (thrift shops) where I love to explore and discover new and interesting resources. It was my lucky day, as I stumbled upon a little wooden ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ table going for a song. The next day, I placed it near our large block supply as an additional ‘provocation’. Well, in an early morning flurry, it quickly became a ‘railway station’ a new location for ticket sales. R created a ‘Ticket Validating Machine’ from the large blocks which have convenient handle slots in them. Perfect for validating tickets! He also set up a row of chairs for passengers to sit on as they waited for the train. He sold ice-creams to the passengers as they waited, ‘improvised’ from ‘cone/ball toss’ props! 

The train arrived and the passengers scurried aboard.

Today, the train design incorporated a window for the driver…

… and in a moment of inspiration, some wheels!

Another day, and the train design becomes more detailed. Walls and windows for passengers and a sliding door set back slightly from the walls.

From a simple provocation (thanks D!), an amazing learning journey has unfolded. Every child has been engaged in this experience in one form or another over time, and this has resulted in the development of a great spirit of belonging, collaboration and camaraderie.  While some children move off and engage in other experiences, they know they can always come back and head off on another adventure at their whim. R has thoroughly enjoyed his self-adopted role as ‘peer tutor’ and his confidence and sense of self-worth has been further enhanced.

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see the children take charge of their own learning and engage in play that is intrinsically motivating for them. Witnessing the joy, sense of agency and autonomy that emerges from such heart-felt activity is a personally humbling experience. It gets me every time. 🙂