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CHILD'S INTEREST: BUILDING WITH BLOCKS - Coggle Diagram
CHILD'S INTEREST: BUILDING WITH BLOCKS
EDUCATOR'S IDEAS
Educator's can plan block play activities where children are encouraged to stack, measure, sort and count, thereby strengthening their mathematical and reasoning skills
Activities where children explore cause and effect during block play are important; some examples include adding different shaped blocks, different weights, shapes, etc
Educator's can encourage children to include blocks in the dramatic arts area, creating landscapes, background settings, etc
Educator's can encourage and support literacy in the block area by bringing books there, reading about what can be made from blocks, how to extend their knowledge
Educator's can support literacy in the block area by encouraging the children to describe what they are doing or plan to do/ vocalizing is important
Educator's can provide and assortment of loose parts that the children can use and explore in the block area
Educator's can support children's learning in the block are by not limiting the children's time during play and by allowing them the opportunity to lead their own learning
Educator's can bring block play outdoors through activities such as making a home for animals, create the neighborhood with blocks, etc
Measuring tape, rulers, protractors, and more can be added to block play, supporting mathematics in the centre
Props in the block play area and other learning areas where block play is encouraged helps children expand their imaginations and learning. Props can include toy cars, trucks, dolls, play animals, and more
Educator's can provide different shaped blocks that come in different materials to encourage and support sensory development
Educator's can explore the usage of blocks in the art area where students can paint and draw with different blocks
Educator's can help children learn 2D and 3D concepts by supplying different shaped and sized blocks and materials
CHILD'S IDEAS
Children can use their imaginations
Children can co-construct their ideas and dreams
Children can extend building with blocks to the creative art centre, dramatic play area, reading area, sensory area
Block play can help support children's physical health/strengthen gross and fine motor skills
Children can engage educator's in block play
Block play can expand and strengthen children's mathematical and literacy skills
Block play can help strengthen social skills as children learn through play together
Based on the observation, children can recreate real-life instances with blocks and story-tell
Children can collect and incorporate natural materials and loose parts found outdoors into their block play
Additional open-ended materials can add many possibilities to activities during block play
Children can work as a group during block play, constructing and creating together
RESEARCH- MANY PROVEN BENEFITS TO BLOCK PLAY. Koralek, D. (2015, March). Ten Things Children Learn from Block Play. Retrieved from naeyc:
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2015/ten-things-children-learn-block-play
Block play has been shown to improve problem-solving skills (Koralek, 2015)
Children's own imagination and shared thoughts during block play are enhanced (Koralek, 2015)
Children who speak in dual-languages can better express themselves during block play (Koralek, 2015)
Mathematics skills involving symmetry and balance are strengthened during block play (Koralek, 2015)
Children's self-esteem can be built during block play as they can feel a sense of accomplishment when their creation is ready (Koralek, 2015)
Children's gross and fine motor skills are developed during block play (Koralek, 2015)
RESEARCH: SUPPORTS THE INQUIRY PROCESS IN THE KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM.1.2 Play-based learning in a culture of inquiry. (2019, May 15). Retrieved from Ontario:
https://www.ontario.ca/document/kindergarten-program-2016/play-based-learning-culture-inquiry
The inquiry process step 1, the initial engagement where children ask "why" and "how" during play are supported during block play (1.2 Play-based learning in a culture of inquiry, 2019)
The second step where children actively engage and explore during their play with blocks is supported; children are able to make observations by using different senses during play (1.2 Play-based learning in a culture of inquiry, 2019)
Investigation skills during the third step encourage and further develop children's mathematical skills when they sort, count, and put blocks in order during play (1.2 Play-based learning in a culture of inquiry, 2019)
The final step, communication, supports social development, where children can communicate their findings during and after block play, sharing their ideas and progress with others (1.2 Play-based learning in a culture of inquiry, 2019)