Reflection 3 Glue Gun

This is not the first time these particular children (about 4 yr) have used the glue guns. Children can focus on making produce for a long to and enjoying using essential materials to make creative produces. Today, I supervised children to use glue gun to make produce. I always emphasize the hazards, regularly pointing out that the tip "will burn you if you touch it," and helping them remember that the glue itself, for at least the few seconds after it comes from the tip is also hot. I was concentrating their entire being on the task at hand, accepting responsibility for their own safety, working quickly before the glue re-hardens, but with a care for the safety of themselves and others.

I believe that Children should experience a variety of ways of joining materials other than with a glue gun (Ministry of Education, 2007).  Meanwhile I have to be extremely conscious of safety issues. Glue guns get very hot and the melted glue is not only very hot but also very sticky. If a burn occurs get the glue off the finger as quickly as possible and run under cold water for at least five minutes. I think not only glue gun,  It is always important to know what safety concerns need to be addressed with every art supply or piece of equipment that is brought into the art room. I think that children are always supervised to use glue gun even they use it before.  Even simple things like dye, glitter and glues can be a safety issue if it is not used correctly. 

Google Image. (2012). A child is using glue gun to make produce. Retrieved from   http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=glue+gun+children&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=584&tbm=isch&tbnid=jAhUuhmISOGI2M:&imgrefurl=http://www.thechocolatemuffintree.com/2011/03/recycled-cars-and-tube-people.html&docid=1ExhHMP_sf3GUM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq2YrXJFRWzm7IKY12Wc8kadGe0yiqZtJGQFmFmZj1Zp7HOCWJmvZf4L0TThJRo-VngOjfUsf080qZOgbN7ZYVxvLNW02rjZhe43HeYX7X-FxeMRMduI8j6OHUazkLgalYQ5__MIwiId6/&w=512&h=384&ei=Nk9mT8niEMatiQex6ITEBQ&zoom=1

Glue guns are one of the pieces of equipment that craftsmen tend to get injured with most often.    It is recommended that use of cool glue guns is restricted to use only when supervised 1:1 with an adult (MacNaughton & Williams, 2009).  Meanwhile, I should plan very carefully and set up everything properly. There are four things I will need for this activity, glue gun, glue sticks, and glue stand, things what children want to glue.  I also need to put it back to a safety place when the activity finish.   I think modeling and scaffolding are  good strategies for support children to use glue gun properly.

 

Google Image. (2012). A child is using glue gun to make produce. Retrieved from   http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=glue+gun+children&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=584&tbm=isch&tbnid=j3GTMAHeI-k_dM:&imgrefurl=http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/here-they-are-doing-all-of-that.html&docid=mn1To_b5fhdAMM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bJDghdzn2EbAMZohTyvHEkrW1gIyOiKCsrEnGfInic2P_EV4xe6vkE_7-4lnHrmGr7Ddl6L5dd5KbzccNfFrlxRXwflitbw4MCKlOhoG1org2AAo7vDsFmeNKL6lkuzRVsCJPwfesaFW/s1600/IMG_4084.JPG&w=1200&h=1600&ei=Nk9mT8niEMatiQex6ITEBQ&zoom=1

A glue gun is very useful for joining wood, metal and certain plastics in the class. It helps children to assemble components in their technology project work, quickly and easily. Just by providing the certain things and then children can changing other items. They can always create something different and give us surprises. Technology is   a creative and purposeful activity aimed at meeting needs and opportunities through the development of products (Smorti, 1999,). I believe that this technological creative experience allows the children to learn from each other, once one child has mastered the use of the glue gun, they are able to pass on those skills to another child through scaffolding, where children are able to move from one point to another and then able to do it by themselves (MacNaughton & Williams, 2008).  Glue gun can help children develop social interaction, problem solving and concept development (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett, Farmer, 2008).

Google Image. (2012). A child is using glue gun to make produce. Retrieved from   http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=glue+gun+children&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=584&tbm=isch&tbnid=9sm7Exb2fX8nUM:&imgrefurl=http://www.jonahlisadyer.com/2011/06/cheap-easy-cork-boat-tutorial.html&docid=YKVtx9fXYba6AM&imgurl=http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5864833691_503db0832d.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=Nk9mT8niEMatiQex6ITEBQ&zoom=1

I believe that use of the learning environment and recourses are relies on follow children’s interests. It will be a great way to expand on the children’s creativity which builds on their confidence, I also should allow children to choose recourses and ideas and explore them confidently to see where it will take them. “solving practical problems contributes to self-confidence,” (Ministry of Education, 1996).

References

 Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (2008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4^th ed.).  Victoria, Australia: Cengage Learning

       

MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices in theory  and practice (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forrest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa .Wellington: Learning Media.

Ministry of Education. (2007). The New Zealand Curriculum. New Zealand: Learning Media.

   Smorti, S. (1999) Technology in Early Childhood. Early Education, No.19 Autumn 1999.