All Modules 42-How Things Work - Module 3 | Page 4
4
How things work
In the context in which the children develop every day, there are endless amounts of objects that
surround them: Automobiles, telephones, computers, beds, chairs, tables, etc. Also, with the advances
brought by science, children are exposed to several technological devices that today’s adults did not
have access to during their childhood.
Different changes occur every day; for example, many years ago we used other means of
communication: Letters in the mail, telegrams, person to person messages, and others. Today, both
children and adults have access to new ways of communicating; electronic mail (E-mail), video cams,
digital photographs, social network pages and more. ¿How do these means of communication work?
All the things that surround us have a function; these functions change through time adapting to the
needs of human beings.
Communication is only one aspect of observing the operation of those things that surround us.
This month´s topic serves as a platform to connect with the needs, interests, and curiosities of the
children, and how to explore these things that surround us from different points of view: Technology,
objects, relationships that we develop in our home, school and community, our own body,
establishments (e.g. Our school), games and much more.
It is important to make emphasis on the responsibilities that we have as citizens, and reinforce
ethics and values giving use to everything that they explore along the month and during the school
year in general. Keep in mind that the topic does not end at the end of the month; on the contrary, we
invite the teachers to connect it with previous topics and those that will be worked on in the near
future.
Importance of the Topic for VESS
Before developing the topic in our school, it is worth highlighting the importance of giving sense
and meaning to the activities that we will work on with the children. Remember that the activities are