Spring Cleaning

Episode 32                                                                     Planet: Technology

Learning concept of the episode: Not all springs look alike, for example; trampoline, pole vault, pogo stick and diving board.  Springs are useful for launching things into the air. 

Story Summary

Bong is playing with a Bong-in-the-Box straight out of Bing’s satchel when they spy a group of Flockers mulling over how to clean a dirty window at the top of a tall building. The Bong-in-the-Box gives Bing an idea! The Flockers, Bing and Bong band together to make a larger box containing a chair latched to a compressed spring. Bing climbs in the box with a squeegee and successfully soars up to the window to clean. Bong and Flockers, each on their own spring, trampoline or pogo-stick help out as well. Who thought cleaning could be such fun!

Focus Early Learning Goal

Knowledge and Understanding 1: Investigate objects and materials by using all of their senses as appropriate.

Linked ELGs

M1, P3, P4, P6

Preparation

• Watch the Tiny Planets episode 
• Talk about what Bing and Bong did in the story.

Talk about…..

• Springs and the use for
• How and when spring boards are used
• How Bing and Bong helped the Flockers

Focus Activity

 Bouncing Day

Follow-on Activities

• Look at the use of springs e.g. clocks, beds etc.
• Bring in a Jack-in-the-box, move the same way
• Look at springing animals
• Spring cards, pop up pictures

Bouncing Day

Aim

For the children to spend a day bouncing in different ways

Resources

• Trampoline, pogo-stick, spring board
• Bouncing castle (optional)

Guidelines

• Let the children bounce on various equipment provided throughout the day
• Let the children jump and bounce to music with no equipment
• You could have this as a sponsored bounce day to raise money for a charity. (optional)

Key Vocabulary

Jump, bounce, spring, high

Health & Safety

If using a bouncing castle ensure that it is insured.

Ensure the children are supervised at all times whilst on and around the equipment.

Ensure that only small groups are let on the bouncing castle at any one time

Place the equipment on grass or a safety surface.