Presentation of Learning: Toys through Time

Here’s a question most kids would love to answer, especially at this time of year: If you could be a toy creator, what kind of toy would you make? The kindergarteners at iLEAD’s OC Learning Studio tackled this question recently by doing a Toys Through Time project and, well, had themselves a ball!

First, learners were introduced to toys from the past to the present to see how toys have evolved and have been geared toward certain genders, interests, and functionality. They experienced lots of hands-on play with very early toys, such as marbles, yo-yos, spinning tops, and kites. Over the course of their several-week study, the learners were also exposed to toys from 1800-1900 (dominoes, playing cards, teetotums, toy trains, abacuses), 1900-1920 (toy cards, crayons, baseball cards, teddy bears), 1920-1940 (paper dolls, Monopoly, stacking rings, LEGO, Mickey Mouse), 1940-1960 (Slinkies, Tonka trucks, Play-Doh, model airplanes, Scrabble, Mr. Potato Head, Frisbees, Hula-Hoops, Matchbox cars), 1960-1980 (Etch A Sketch, Rubik’s Cube, skateboards, Hot Wheels cars), 1980-2000 (rollerblades, Super Soaker, Game Boy, Star Wars figures, Tamagotchi), and beyond 2000 (Xbox 360, iPad, Beyblades, Hatchimals, scooters, Robosapien).

As they explored the wealth of playthings from each time period, these little toy explorers also got to make simple toys themselves: penny spinner, ball and cup, model airplane, toy boat, and a fidget. Once the learners had been exposed to toys through time and had made some simple toys themselves, they were then ready to think through how they would like to design their own toy and create a prototype.

Here are some guiding questions they used:

• How have toys changed through time? Why have toys changed through time?
• How are toys created the same, and how are they different? What makes these differences?
• What toys do you play with? What toys did your parents play with?
• How are the toys that your parents played with different from the toys you play with?
• How would you design your toy? What would it look like? What materials would you need? What steps would you take to create this toy?

Finally, each learner thought through what their own toy would be and how they would create it. Once they were finished, the learners took turns presenting their toy to the class. The learners took ownership of their toy invention and enjoyed sharing with their classmates its name, how it works, and who would want to play with it.

Resources

Playing with Friends: Comparing Past and Present by Rebecca Rissman

Then & Now: A Journey Through the History of Machines by Santiago Beascoa
Too Many Toys by David Shannon

The Berenstain Bears’ Mad, Mad, Mad, Toy Craze by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Toys Galore by Peter Stein

Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

History of Toys Timeline posters

History of Toys worksheets