Project-Based Learning — DIY A Cloud Lamp (Age Group: 0–7)

Project Name: DIY A Cloud Lamp

Part 1: Design & Experiment
The project is to design a cloud lamp, initial design should discuss with the kids: how will it look, how big the could be, what if it falls (too heavy), and what materials we will need to prepare to make a cloud lamp?”

Age Group: 0–7
🐣 Infant: Practice tummy time while watching the teacher and older kids draw the cloud
👶 Toddlers: Practice drawing cloud, circles, and different shapes, and maybe explain how cloud becomes rain
👧 Older kid: Draw the cloud, plan where to hang them, what he/she plans to do (with what materials and how to hang it in the room) “

💡 Learning Focus:
1: Language — Communicate what we are building, how cloud looks like
2: Sensory — touch the cotton, feel the softness
3: Logic — Plan the steps of the project, learn together how much time, cotton etc. needed to complete the project”

Do & Don’t
1: Don’t rush to finish — kids will NOT learn anything if you just want to have a finished project
2: Do enjoy the journey, both you and your students should enjoy it, if they start to cry and are not interested, you can stop the project and do it another time
3: Don’t lecture — explore it together with kids, be curious, and ask them questions
4: Do assign small tasks — “Can you give me the RED pen”? “Can you put this paper into the trash can” — the goal of the project is to raise happy and capable kids, they become capable by achieving small tasks
5: Do communicate the next project plan: eg “ tomorrow, we will start collecting materials to build this city together”

Questions to ask:
1: Have you seen a purple cloud?
2: How big do you want the cloud lamp to be?
3: Can you work as a team leader for the project?

➡️ Start a project-based mini daycare from home: Course Overview
➡️ Facebook Community: Play-Date-Care Bay Area Community (for parents, teachers & hosts)