We have worked with an experimental group of 4-8 years
old kids for one year. Our last challenge is a play
initiated by the kids. They invented a visitor from
space who cannot understand any known language, but
the kids have started to construct "a space language"
by inventing their own symbols for Finnish letters.
The kids would like to teach this creature Finnish.
The adults have cooperated with the kids by taking
the role of this ET and visiting the class.
I think this could be a good chance to teach the
systemic nature of language in a form not alien for
the kids. But how to do it in the best way? Do you
have good hints?
Pentti
Pentti Hakkarainen
Institute for Educational Research
University of Jyvaskyla, Finland
phakkara who-is-at jyu.fi