Building DOWN with PVC

We have been working with PVC pipes for some time now. The kids always enjoy them and they have made some very creative structures with the shorter sections of pipe (6-24 inches). This week I brought out the 24 - 36 inch pipes. At the beginning, the children were excited that they could connect 2 pipes together and touch the roof. I, on the other hand, wasn't quite as excited about that option since the pieces were liable to disconnect and fall on a head (okay...DID fall on a head!). My clever coworker decided to work with the children's desire for height by hanging the pipes from the existing rope that was strung from our patio overhang.

The experience for building DOWN rather than UP was intriguing to the kids. It took effort not to yank the hanging pieces while pushing in new pipes. The structures became all sorts of things and their creativity expanded as they had to think on a whole new plane. This was such as success, that my coworker and I are now trying to think of other items that could be built down, around or sideways! We have thought of lego boards on a easel, Zoobs hanging from ropes, but what else? Any ideas??

Here are some of the experiences we had with the PVC:

The finished "product" - Even Mopsy the bunny came to check it out!

Hard hats are recommended!

Much discussion took place as the children worked their way through the new building 'arrangement.'

The structure grew so large that extensions were laid flat on the ground.

More Fun With PVC

We have been playing with PVC pipes and connectors in our Outdoor Classroom for the past while. I put various sizes of pipes and connectors into a small dry paddling pool (set on top of a table) and let the children explore force and motion with marbles, ping pong balls and golf balls.

We rolled, launched, and even painted with the creations. After visiting Teacher Tom's site and seeing the exciting things he was doing with pendulums, I had fully intended to follow suit this week and use my PVC to create a pendulum sand swing. I dyed some sand blue, added blue glitter, then dumped it into the dry pool. I rigged a PVC structure to make a pendulum with a funnel at the bottom. The intention was to scoop the sand into the funnel, give it a swing, and then the sand would make circular designs caused the circular swinging motion (see Tom's pendulum paintings). It was going to be really cool! Well, the children came outside and saw my contraption. A lot of oohs and ahhhs, and then all at once asked (I'm not kidding...every single child), "Sooooo....how do we put the marbles in? Where do the marbles go?" "Marbles?" I ask. "Oh. No, no, no, no...this is a pendulum. We will swing sand with it and make neat designs." I was gazed upon with disappointment. LOTS of disappointment. They did give the contraption a quick swirl. But then, "So we don't get to use the marbles?" And at that, my sparkly swinging sand was a complete bust. Needless to say, out went the pendulum  and in went the pipes, connectors and marbles!

We kept the sand and the funnels since this added extra interest - they could pour the sand through the connected tubes to see where it would come out! They were thrilled and played happily for the remaining portion of the hour.

The pendulum was moved to the "construction" area.

I removed the funnel and added a ziplock filled with sand. This became a "wrecking ball" for the block structures. 

The set of children who were playing in that area were quite amazed by the pendulum and it was a roaring success.

Ah, the joy of the "emergent" curriculum!

Today, I removed the sand and added over 30 feet of 3", 6" and 12" cut PVC with connectors. The added pipes allowed the children to build more complex structures.

This boy was extremely focused and creative with the PVC. He made a "4",

he made an "h"

and next it was a horse!

We sat together and concentrated his efforts further. He began to assemble the pipes vertically and soon it became this upright "goal post." Several children came to join the fun as we tossed bean bags through his goal post.

This boy was intent on putting marbles through the tubes. He would listen for the sound of the rolling marbles and would find the hole through which the marble would fall.

PVC = Science and Art!

When I was asked to take over the "patio" responsibility at our school, I had to think for a long time about what angle I was going to take with the activities. The patio is designed for the 3 - 5 year olds and is our version of "indoor/outdoor" flow for an hour during their free choice time. Though I work with the teachers on specific activities to strengthen particular skills, the rest is for me to "take it and run."

I envisioned a beautiful art area filled with ample resources such as recyclables, jars of paint, and oodles of colored paper. I thought about it, but then it occurred to me that our "Project Room" serves that exact purpose (click here to visit the I Work 4 Kids blog, written by our Project Room teacher).
Well, I could do dramatic play, puzzles, and fine motor. Nope...that is already IN the classroom! It finally struck me that large science, gross motor, messy art, water play, nature-oriented and sensory activities were just what we needed for the children who would be "naturally inclined" to choose the outdoor space for their free time activities.

This week, one of the focus activities was PVC tubes and balls. I had the children explore various sizes of PVC tubes with varying sizes of balls (golf, whiffle, and marbles). Of course, my idea was to roll the balls into the pool, but that lasted for about...oh...30 seconds!

Soon, ramps, tubes and slides were being built across the patio and balls were running wild. The tubes were hooked onto the patio fence, window sills and the 5 gallon paint bucket that I was using to store the PVC. However, the kids were focused and intention and they were creating unique and effective ramps designed to jump balls into cups, race marbles with friends, and test out force and velocity. Did I worry that my intended method wasn't in use? NOPE! The children had taken their learning much further than my idea would have allowed. And that should be a teacher's goal...to allow children to create their own thoughts, processes, and understandings.

Today, I removed several pieces of the pipe and left only a few select balls. I lined the pool with paper, squirted in ample amounts of paint, and let them discover how the paint reacted to the different balls.

One boy realized that the lighter balls would get stuck in the paint, while the heavier ones would roll through to make the longest tracks.

I didn't put too many limits on how to use the pipes or shovels (which were technically added for the purpose of scooping up balls in case the children didn't want to get their hands dirty...lol!). The shovels became "hockey" sticks for the balls and were also used to shmear the paint. One little girl even picked up a clean sheet of paper and laid it across her favorite "ball painting" to make a mirror image.

Tomorrow, we will use 3/4" PVC with marbles and paint!


The other activities I set out were: a "construction zone" with gutters, blocks, and lego vehicles;

  clay;

tree blocks with forest animals;

painting and printing on leaves from our playground;

and a sensory bin filled with beans, magnet wands and small magnetic items (click the links to see detailed posts on these activities).

If you don't have a patio, then I would highly recommend bringing any of these activities into the yard. Remember...anything you can do inside, can be done BIGGER AND BETTER outside!!!

Exploring the Outdoor Classroom...in the Backyard

Like many teachers, my job isn't finished when I exit the doors of the school. In addition to being the Outdoor Curriculum Coordinator at the preschool, I am the mother of 2 boys, ages 5 ("W") & 7 ("C"). And so, as I exit one door, I enter another. This week I decided to buy 9 rods of 10 foot PVC pipes (1/2" diameter) and a bunch of assorted connectors for the school. I purchased it from my local hardware store and spent about $60.00 for the lot. They graciously offered to cut it for me, but when they asked what lengths I wanted, my answer was, "I'm not sure! Enough to build forts, sprinklers, water play pipes, marble runners, pendulums....". At that, the man suggested I purchase a PVC cutter. They have those? Awesome!

My intention was to see what I could think up at home, and then bring the PVC to school to use with the children next week (be sure to check back as I will be posting ample photos of the activities since I now have a few thoughts up my sleeve). However, as I was snipping the pipes with my oh-so-awesome PVC cutter (highly recommended, by the way!), I noticed my stocks were dwindling. In fact, every time I cut a new piece, it would walk away into the other room with one of my boys. They were having a blast discovering their new "toys!" In watching their creations, I learned which pieces were effective and which pieces we were in need of purchasing (such as the tri-corner connectors and several clamps...a definite must-have).

This weekend we decided to take the pipes outside since C was upset that I had to dismantel his fort in order to walk through the living room! Go figure! W and I made a "shower" from the pipes yesterday. It worked well, but if we are to use them with water again, I definitely need to purchase some end caps to stop the flowing water from coming out the bottom pipes. He also took smaller sections and made them into a snorkel for his bath later on (he was freezing after the outdoor PVC shower!). Today, C came out to join the fun and he built a huge fort. We covered it with a tarp and a bedsheet and the play began.

We then decided to add the dryer box that we obtained with our new dryer the other day. They played all morning in their creation. When the play dwindled, we added some of that REALLY COOL cardboard packing "stuff" that comes in boxes to hold items in place (we got a bunch with our new vacuum). As "C" saw me throw the cardboard into his side of the fort, he exclaimed, "COOL! I got the Star Wars side!". I believe he was transforming the cardboard into a likeness of the homes on the planet Tatooine!

At the end of their play session, I tossed in a bunch of large bubble wrap. They popped it with their fingers and then we laid it on the ground. What a sensation to run across the bubbles and hear them popping as they ran, hopped and skipped across the snapping plastic!!

They exhausted themselves with the bubbles and plunked back into the fort to recuperate. W let out a happy sigh and I hear him say quietly, "You are the best Mommy ever." And then Mommy let out a happy sigh :-).

Connectors: $25.00 

PVC Pipes: $15.00 

PVC Cutter $10.99 

Tarps (at 99 Cent Store!): $2.00 

Clamps: $8.00 

Igniting Creativity: Priceless ;-)