Play School alumni, Don Spencer, joins Abi, Nicholas and Big Ted in the 1950’s Play School milk bar.
What can preschoolers learn from our nostalgia? Reflecting on special moments from our past with children is a gateway to deeper intergenerational relationships, rich oral storytelling opportunities and a strong sense of belonging …
In this series, Play School explores nostalgia for generations of viewers as Big Ted and his crew of special guests go to the past and look to the future. From the rockin’ 50s, swinging 60s, groovy 70s and rad 1980s, Play School rediscovers retro fashion, games, music and what the future may look like with gadgets and gizmos galore! Through the Windows see what life was like in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s from jukeboxes to cassette players and everything in between. We also travel to the future with 3D printed houses, robot chefs and flying cars!
Nostalgia and the passage of time in early learning
Make your own craft Time Machine at home after you watch!
“Being curious about the past builds deeper understandings about the present. As children grow, that curiosity will encourage children to imagine big about the kind of world they want for the future” – Laura Stone, Early Childhood Producer.
Understanding the passage of time is a complex process that begins during early childhood. At around four years of age, children develop the foundational understanding of ‘before and after’. In the early years of school, between approximately 5 and 8 years, children become conscious of how time passes; what happened today (the present), yesterday (the past) and will occur tomorrow (the future).
In Play School: Big Ted’s Time Machine, we jump straight into the curious and wonderful world of recent history. Through storytelling and imagination, Play School explores aspects of popular culture over the decades. From great grandparents to preschoolers, Big Ted’s Time Machine is a fun-filled series for generations of Play School fans to enjoy together!
Justine and Alex make an oozy retro fondue.
Early childhood educators: link engagement with this series to key EYLF 2.0 Outcomes including -
- 4.2 — Children develop a range of learning and thinking skills and processes such as problem-solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating.
- 4.3 — Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another.
- 5.5 — Children use digital technologies and media to access information, investigate ideas and represent their thinking
Episode overview and ABC iview links
Play School alumni, George Spartels and Retrosweat’s Shannon Dooley join Emma and Teo for some 80’s aerobics.
- 1.Abi and Nicholas travel back in time to the 1950s! They visit a milk bar with a live rockin’ band and are joined by legend, Don Spencer. The toys snuggle up for a slide show and have lots of fun with a hula hoop. Watch now.
- 2.Step back in time to the swinging 60s with Justine and Alex where they meet Play School icon, Monica! Big Ted plays hide & seek and hopscotch with the other toys. They have fondue for lunch and watch the moon landing! Watch now.
- 3.Get ready to groove into the 1970s with Miah and Rachael. They lace up their roller-skates for a disco party, play music on vinyl and make tie-dye shirts! Special guest Georgie Parker helps tell the story of Sven at Ten. Watch Now.
- 4.Emma and Teo turn back the clock to the radical 1980s! Put in the cassette and slide on your leg warmers for an aerobics session with Shannon Dooley! Big Ted gets into 80s games and George Spartels joins in too. Watch now.
- 5.Kaeng and Luke time travel into the future and find lots of gadgets and gizmos. They see flying cars and use the Zapizoover 5000! They’re joined by guest, Kirli Saunders to plant native seeds for future generations to enjoy! Watch now.
Top 5 follow up ideas!
The future is green with special guest, picture book author and proud Gunai woman, Kurli Saunders, together with Luke and Kaeng in the Play School garden.
- 1.Read the picture book from episode 5, Our Dreaming by Kirli Saunders and Dub Leffler (illustrator). A story sharing First Nations perspectives through “respect for Country and her spirits … past present and beyond.”
- 2.Read Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas (illustrator). An Australian childhood classic exploring memories lost and found and a very special intergenerational friendship.
- 3.Create your own time capsule! A great activity for slightly older children; gather a small collection of items that will help children tell people from ‘the future’ something about our time, ‘the present’; draw a picture of home or school, write a letter about things they like to do, or take a photograph of a special item and describe it.
- 4.Does anyone you know own a record player? Go on a trip to your local op-shop and buy a second-hand record. Explore how the old record player works and compare it to how we play music now.
- 5.Make your own Time Machine for hours of imaginary play. Play School used an upcycled appliance box along with a creative mix of collage pieces, craft materials and other loose parts!