Sweeping the Floor
Materials:
Small broom
dustpan
brush with a loop to hang it up
small basket with dried petals (to be filled as needed)
a container with small dots
Following Exercises:
child sized mop
short handled carpet sweeper for rugs
push broom for outdoors
Purposes:
Independence
Coordination of Movement
Equilibrium
Development of the sense of order through the exact use of each item
Orientation to the environment
Age: 2 ½ - 4
Preparation: The child can maintain a level of focus to go back and forth to the materials and to the spill without distraction.
Presentation:
Invite one child for a lesson on sweeping.
Take the child to the shelf to select a sticker dot and select a clear area on the floor to stick it.
Return to the shelf for the container of flower petals and take them to the area where the sticker was placed on the floor.
Gently scatter petals on the floor around the sticker dot.
Return the box to the shelf and go to the broom.
Pick up the broom so the right hand below left on the handle. Show the child how your hands are placed on the broom.
Go to the area you scattered the petals at.
Sweep the petals on the spot, traveling in a counterclockwise circle around the spot one stroke per move. Remind the child to stay with you to watch.
Return the broom.
Carry the dustpan to the pile- set the hand brush on the pan, handle perpendicular with bristles facing the pan handle and pick both up.
Left hand supports the pan while the right sweeps the petals in.
Set the hand brush on the dustpan as before and take to the trash.
Use hand brush to sweep the contents from the pan to the trash.
Go back to return the tools.
Invite the child and face and observe.
When the child is finished, remind them to remove the sticker.
Points of Interest:
Scattering the flower petals with control.
Moving in a circular pattern while sweeping the pile.
Using the sticker dot as a target to sweep toward.
How to carry the broom and how to carry the dustpan.
Keep the hand brush over the contents in the pan as it is carried to the trash.
Following Exercises:
Mopping up a naturally occurring wet spill
Using a carpet sweeper
Sweeping up spills that occur spontaneously
Using a push broom outside
Using a dust mop
Using a crumbing set for tabletops
Pedagogical Notes:
For safety, adults should clean up broken glass.
Holding the broom with the dominant hand at the bottom offers the child the most control in sweeping.
Wait for a naturally occurring spill to demonstrate mopping.
The child can use the sticker dots for spontaneous spills