Children from Boston, MA during the Gliders project (Design-It).
Usually I like the children NOT to have the materials in their hands during formal discussions like this, because the kids who are not talking end up playing instead of listening and joining the discussion. You can see here, though, how it helps some children verbalize their ideas if they can hold their glider and demonstrate how it flew. So, the program leader must make a judgment call between competing benefits.
I try never to judge the rightness or wrongness of what the children say. I try to simply record it on the chart (in an abbreviated form) as something s/he felt "Worked" or "Did not work" This often means there are contradictory statements on the chart -- which is fine. It means that we are holding off on final conclusions until the evidence for one conclusion or another is overwhelmingly supported by the children's own direct experience.
Broadband users may download a larger version of the video by clicking Download this video. This video requires Apple's newest (FREE) version of Quicktime, available by clicking Free Quicktime. This will open a new window where you may select a free download of Apple's Quicktime (select the regular version WITHOUT iTunes) by entering your email address, unchecking the three boxes for additional information by email, and clicking Free Download Now.