The Value of Found Objects

Big and small dinosaurs were put into the classroom as an invitation, after a group had chanted, "Dino Rocket, Dino Rocket."

The children colored the bottom of boxes to make a 'home' for the dinosaurs.

A big red dinosaur was too big for any of the boxes in the room.

"I wonder what we could use for the big dinosaur," I said looking around (I wondered if I should bring some bigger cardboard boxes into the room).

A. spotted a wicker basket sitting on the table. It was the basket we'd used to store the big dinosaurs in. A.went and got the basket. He  gave it to B. who was the child with the big dinosaur.

B. started to color the bottom of the wicker basket, just like they group of children had been coloring the bottom of the cardboard boxes. I didn't need to ask him to stop because the wicker basket was one I'd found on the side of the road, put out as garbage. I'd taken it (and 2 others) home, washed them in the bath and left them outside to dry.

A free basket means that I'm not going to be concerned with the children using it any way they choose.

Such is the value of found objects.