Sam the Sock Puppet
When the world was sent home in March 2020, we were all faced with the struggles of continuing our current work in a virtual setting. For me, the challenge to solve was how to engage my class of 3- and 4-year-olds, many of whom lived in households with few educational resources. I quickly realized what came to life on the Zoom screen (employing a range of digital platforms, building relationships through a bizarre new level of eye contact), as well as what fell short (group singing–ouch!).
I also realized my students had just as many questions as I did when it came to this new world we were living in. I created a YouTube series about Sam the Sock Puppet, a relatable four-year-old confused about why he’s suddenly stuck at home. Through Sam's eyes, my young learners navigated new concepts like masking and isolation. They also got to see that even without our standard range of classroom materials, there's a lot of fun to be had with a simple sock, some yarn, and your own imagination!
I also realized my students had just as many questions as I did when it came to this new world we were living in. I created a YouTube series about Sam the Sock Puppet, a relatable four-year-old confused about why he’s suddenly stuck at home. Through Sam's eyes, my young learners navigated new concepts like masking and isolation. They also got to see that even without our standard range of classroom materials, there's a lot of fun to be had with a simple sock, some yarn, and your own imagination!