Understanding Aaron’s pattern of schema explorations
Aaron appeared to move through seventeen schema interests during nine months.
See Figure 3.8 for examples of some of these.
Aaron’s dominant schemas during this period were what he referred to as
‘smokers’ which we understood to be an interest in vertical chimneys. This developed
later to includehorizontal cylinders (exhaust pipes). Aaron was clearly interested in
the movement of smoke and other objects up, down andthroughthe cylinders (chim-
neys, tubes, tunnels).Observations of Aaron’s dominant schemas
(See Figure 3.7)
We have selected observations of Aaron’s dominant schemas from a period of nine
months (see below). The numbers in column one refer to the observation (day): ‘1’ was of
notes made on the first day of observing.
This example from my daily observation notes, highlights Aaron’s interest in rotation,
rolling up and unrolling:Day Observation notes1 • Made a long ‘car’ and rolled it up and unrolled it.
1 • Made ‘helicopters’ and a ‘roundabout’ and spun them above his head.
4 • Made a motorbike with a wheel at either end. Said he wanted ‘to make them
go round together’ and he suggested using a ‘big rubber band’ (we had none
large enough). He tried a long strip of paper (it broke) and then string which
he estimated correctly to within 10 cm. He was thrilled when his idea worked.
12 • Intrigued when watching liquid swirl in a cup, explaining ‘it’s the stirring’.
24 • Explaining part of a tall construction, said ‘this bends for the smoke to go
round’ (i.e. it both curved and rotated).
24 • At the base of his model was a cross with wheels which could rotate. He
explained ‘it’s the propeller’.
33 • Made a spaceship with a steering wheel, lock, tools, microphone and dumb-
bell, all of which he demonstrated could rotate.
34 • Brought in off-cuts of a roller blind which he repeatedly rolled and unrolled.
35 • Again unrolled and rolled the off-cuts of the blind.
35 • Made a road with a ramp either end for the off-cut of blind to unroll on.
35 • Involved Katie, spending ages rolling and unrolling – pleased to demon-
strate to anyone who would watch.
35 • Brought in a door catch he’d found outside and showed me how it worked
(it rotated).
35 • Excited to watch the builder’s cement mixer rotating.
35 • Unrolled the entire length of his off-cut of a blind and compared its length
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