More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
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Children learn through play. They learn best when they have choice, collaboration with others, and ownership over their learning.
Open ended materials lead to learning across the curriculum: physical, social emotional, language skills, and cognition.
I picture using the materials like this:
1. A short 2-3 minute mini lesson about using your big voice when there is a conflict (Ex: say "Can I have a turn when you are finished?" Ex: say "I don't like it when you _(take the toy from my hand)___. Next time, please _(ask for a turn)____."
2. Students make a plan of where they would like to play and sign up on the choice board.
3. Students play for 30 minutes. A student playing with the Balls and Ramps exploration kit will learn about gravity, cause and effect, and use critical thinking skills to slow the ball down or speed the ball up. (or a car!)
Students playing with the Mix and Match Animals set will think about the different characteristics of animals and practice fine motor skills of combining the animal parts. Will the new animal they created be able to fly or swim? What features support that?
During the play time I will be circulating through the room asking open ended questions to further the students learning. Ex: "Why do you think that happened?" "How could you change it?"
4. A visual timer will signal that playtime is over. Students clean up their materials and return to the carpet.
5. Students will generalize their skills by sharing with a partner or with the group about what they did during playtime and what they discovered.
With play, there are endless possibilities for their imagination and creativity to flourish and social skills to develop. The skills learned through play will last throughout the child's
About my class
Children learn through play. They learn best when they have choice, collaboration with others, and ownership over their learning.
Open ended materials lead to learning across the curriculum: physical, social emotional, language skills, and cognition.
I picture using the materials like this:
1. A short 2-3 minute mini lesson about using your big voice when there is a conflict (Ex: say "Can I have a turn when you are finished?" Ex: say "I don't like it when you _(take the toy from my hand)___. Next time, please _(ask for a turn)____."
2. Students make a plan of where they would like to play and sign up on the choice board.
3. Students play for 30 minutes. A student playing with the Balls and Ramps exploration kit will learn about gravity, cause and effect, and use critical thinking skills to slow the ball down or speed the ball up. (or a car!)
Students playing with the Mix and Match Animals set will think about the different characteristics of animals and practice fine motor skills of combining the animal parts. Will the new animal they created be able to fly or swim? What features support that?
During the play time I will be circulating through the room asking open ended questions to further the students learning. Ex: "Why do you think that happened?" "How could you change it?"
4. A visual timer will signal that playtime is over. Students clean up their materials and return to the carpet.
5. Students will generalize their skills by sharing with a partner or with the group about what they did during playtime and what they discovered.
With play, there are endless possibilities for their imagination and creativity to flourish and social skills to develop. The skills learned through play will last throughout the child's