Conclusion
If I had just taken the children out to see shadows and we had looked at them
and discussed them, I could have assumed that because the children could talk
to me about the shadows using the same words as I did that they had the same
understanding of shadows that I did. However, when I look at the children’s drawings
of shadows I can see many different interpretations of the concept of shadow as well
as different drawing strategies used to develop these concepts. Drawing involved
the constant invention of symbols. Changes in children’s thinking became visible
through their drawings. Meaning and understanding was facilitated through the
dialogic engagement with drawing shadows. Drawing played a significant role in the
growth and movement between the spontaneous concept and the scientific concept.
Supporting a collaborative and communicative approach to drawing allowed these
children’s drawing efforts to assist in the development of higher mental functions.