Help me give my students confidence. We need puzzles for grades K-3. Puzzle making gives students a sense of pride and self-esteem. Puzzles are very important in assisting children to develop emotional, cognitive, problem solving skills and more.
Well first off I would like like to say that all of the students have smiles that will warm your heart. Some are shy smiles some are from ear to ear smiles.
I greet them each morning as they arrive at school.
If their smiles are not present as they enter the building they will receive a hug and a smile is sure to ensue. These students are from a small country setting. This allows for a close relationship to the kids and their families.
These kids are so warm and friendly. It is not unusual for a fifth grader to take the hand of a sad kindergartner and walk them to class; this is without prompting from staff. They all make life a little happier each and every day.
My Project
Puzzles are an important educational learning tool for young children as they provide many skills and mental learning benefits and opportunities.
COGNITIVE SKILLS:
Puzzles come in a whole range of themes and topics such as alphabet letters, shapes, vegetables, numbers, pets, transport and colours. It increases their visual spacial awareness and develops a deeper understanding of these themes and topics. All children learn differently and puzzles may be their medium for grasping an understanding of certain themes such as alphabet letters.
PROBLEM SOLVING:
Completing a puzzle, even the most simplest of puzzles sets a single goal to achieve. Toddlers and children must think and develop strategies on how to approach in achieving this goal. This process involves problem solving, reasoning skills and developing solutions which they can later be transferred into their personal/adult life.
FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT:
Puzzles are a fun way for children to develop and refine their fine motor skills. When engaged in playing with puzzles, children are required to pick up, pinch and grasp pieces (some with small knobs, pegs or chunky pieces) and move them around, manipulating them into slots, sorting them and fitting them into the correct places.
HAND AND EYE COORDINATION:
Playing with puzzles requires a trial and error process which involves a lot of hand and eye manipulation. For example, as a toddler or child places a piece of the puzzle that does not fit, they will try all over again where their actions involve doing what they actually see.
SOCIAL:
Puzzles are a great educational tool to enhance and promote cooperative play. As kids work together to complete a puzzle, they will discuss where a piece should go and why, take turns and share and support each other when handling frustration, then sharing the joy of finishing the puzzle.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Bailey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
