These block center challenges are my favorite way to offer block building activities in my kindergarten classroom, but can also be used in preschool, first grade or homeschool. Use these block play ideas as an independent activity, station, play tub, or for morning work, choice time or small group lessons. Just add blocks and a few simple props and you are ready to go! When children visit the block building center, they explore both math and science concepts through exploration and experimentation. This bundle includes 3 different types of challenges to offer at your block center throughout the school year. Read 5 Must-Have Materials for Your Kindergarten Block Center to learn more about setting up a block center in your classroom. ✅How Do These Block Building Challenges Work? This resource gives you a year's worth of building challenges intended to spark children’s interests and imaginations, encourage “outside the block” thinking, and provide opportunities for children to make their thinking visible. You'll find 36 challenges, 12 within each category, making it easy for you to offer weekly or monthly challenges in your classroom block center. The block building challenges include: Material Challenges: Children are invited to explore and build with a new material such as rocks or planks. Structural Challenges: Children are invited to build a specific structure such as a skyscraper or a bridge. Habitat Challenges: Children are invited to research and build a habitat such as a farm or jungle. You might choose just to offer a new material, structural or habitat challenge each month or combine them and offer one of each within the same month. If you choose the latter option, you’ll see that the material, structure, and habitat were carefully selected to work together to create a complete challenge set. ✅What's Inside These Block Play Challenges?: a full-color table tent to display each challenge in your block center printable "blueprints" for kids to draw their block building ideas full-color photos of each habitat Colorful signs/labels to hang in your block center Family "wish list" letter to help you collect the materials needed for each block center challenge ✅How Can I Use These Block Building Activities?: There are many ways to use these block center challenges. You might try: Block Center Building Tubs Construction Zone Morning Bins Choice Time Free Play Early Finisher Task ✅Which Skills Will Kids Practice? mathematical thinking creativity collaboration abstract reasoning visual-spatial awareness fine motor skills gross motor skills ✅More Kindergarten Center Activities: Math Center Invitations Makerspace Invitations Science Center Invitations Block Center Invitations Storytelling Invitations Writing Center Invitations Art Center Invitations ⭐Need help setting up a block center in your classroom? Check out this Block Center Classroom Setup Guidefor tons of ideas to get you started. ✅What Teachers Say About These Block Building Challenges: ❤️"This resource has provided an easy, attractive way to update the bulletin board in our Block Center as our themes/units of study change. The photos are visually attractive and engage the students. They have loved working on the challenge activities." Carolyn M. ❤️"I love the way everything lined up with so many standards." Kathleen H. I so appreciate your feedback and take time to read every comment! Click on the star under my store name to find out about new products, sales, freebies! NEW PRODUCTS ARE NOW LISTED AT 50% OFF FOR THE FIRST 48 HOURS. FOLLOW AND SAVE!
Animals and other items in the blocks center for zoo building; for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classrooms; STEM activity in the block center
Take children's block play to a new level by adding a few different touches to the building center. Suggestions that can apply to both home and school.
Freya - Pantograph / E2E © 2012 Keryn Emmerson PAPER: A single row is 6.5 inches - printed with one row - 144 inches long DIGITAL (computerized quilting systems): Zip file includes: BQM, CQP, DXF, HQF, IQP, PAT, QLI, SSD, TXT, WMF and 4QB or PLT. Most designs also include a DWG, GPF, PDF, PNG and SVG. SELF-PRINT: A single row is 6.5 inches - printed with one row.
How long have you been teaching? Have you been teaching long enough to see things "cycle"? When I first started teaching, kindergarten re...
The science center in my classroom is always a busy place. Students can observe, experiment, create, construct, classify, compare, and question. Students are natural-born scientists. They are curious and eager to explore the world and everything in it! As teachers, it is our job to nurture their scientific spirit and help students form questions, investigations, collect data, and share their conclusions. Make your science center amazing to enhance their experiences! Plus, I have a few freebies for your center too!
In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the first of 12 blocks in the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series. Find the January through
Now that all members have received their EL Education Skills Block July boxes (for August), I'm so excited to be able to share what was inside them! All of these materials were in addition to the module and skills block lesson slides, the bonus library resources, and the extra special back-to-school goodies like Mr. Sketch Markers, number cubes, etc.
I am pleasantly surprised at how many people are still interested in building toys at home. My first DIY Toy blog about construction was visited and loved by many bloggers and viewer…
Day Nursery IU Health Preschool 3 teacher Ms. Tomi Lessaris is already using some information she received last Saturday in our day-long Summer Institute training. One of the ideas she got during t…
How to set up the blocks center in your early childhood classroom (with ideas, tips, and book list) plus block center freebies!
These Bridge Building STEM Activities invite kids to build their own version of world bridges using blocks, LEGO bricks, or any building material of choice. Use them in the preschool block center, maker space, or STEAM bins. Try a free printable sample.
Spring Planting Instead of pulling weeds in the garden I was busy taking pictures of quilts. I would hate to get my hands all dirty. This beauty is totally outside my box. I purchased this fabric for my daughters graduation quilt but decided to use something different. This pile of fun spring prints was calling my name. I found this pattern and had it sent right to my inbox. I love PDF patterns when the creative mood strikes. Enjoy I am off to the garden to pull weeds and plant some blueberries. - - - - - - - - note - I had to remove the comment section from my blog because I was receiving a lot of very inappropiate spam comments. I love to read your comments so I am hoping to be able to turn them back on soon.
The World Structures Freebie will be arriving in your email inbox soon. Find help here if you need it. Check Out These Related Items Here are some things you might want to use alongside the world structures free printable: I always suggest a few items when it comes to preschool printables: A trustworthy printer is aKeep Reading
This, EVENING AT THE POND, the second block in my Block of the Month quilt ‘Dreamcatcher Round the Year’ , is a favourite of mine! For those of you who came in late, this quilt is being…
Sarah's Choice Quilt Block is a wonderful star quilt block. Grab your FREE pattern and let's get started with Sarah's Choice Quilt Block Tutorial!
This block design has been around for ages and there are a lot of different tutorials for this on the web. I’m providing this tutorial to show how I make my personal take on it. I did not invent th…
Use blocks to build math and measurement skills with this fun all about me activity; for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classes.
Looking for new ideas for science bulletin boards this year? Dress up an ordinary bulletin board with colorful displays, use interactive bulletin boards to review important concepts, and remind students that science is everywhere with these amazing bulletin board ideas! All you need is time, a bit of creativity, and a little inspiration to make your boards pop (and maybe a lab coat or two)!
There is only so much time in the day to organize your Childcare Business and Space. To help save you some time (and money) I'm sharing some super Freebies for your Childcare Program.
Do your kids love to play and build? Would they love to learn colors and patterns while playing with blocks? This is the activity for you. We love to use snap cubes for this activity because you can build vertical or horizontal, but traditional blocks or colored paper squares would work as well. You'll get 3 pages, with 12 pattern cards total. Use this activity to teach the 3 steps of Preschool Patterns: ✿ Copy the Pattern ✿ Continue the Pattern ✿ Create new Patterns Side tip: We also love to add dump trucks to this activity. They haul the blocks and add an additional element of play to the learning. ✿ I N S T A N T D O W N L O A D ✿ **This is a DIGITAL DOWNLOAD. No physical items will be mailed to you.** When you purchase you will receive an email receipt from Etsy with a link to download your printable. You can also download your files from the “Purchases and Reviews” section of your Etsy profile. You will receive a PDF file for printing on 8.5”x11” paper. Print on heavy cardstock and laminating for extra durability. ✿ S H O W & T E L L ✿ I’d love to see you and your little ones enjoying your new learning activity! Be sure to tag me @planningplaytime and use #planningplaytime and we may even feature your photo on our Instagram account. ✿ C O P Y R I G H T S T U F F ✿ Your copy of this printable is for personal use only, not for resale. You may not copy or change these files or share them with others. Thank you!
Printable Pineapple Pattern is a delightful and versatile design that can add a touch of tropical charm to various arts and crafts projects. Whether youre a seasoned crafter looking for a new pattern to incorporate into your creations or a pineapple enthusiast seeking a fun way to express your love for this exotic fruit, this printable pattern is perfect for you.
It's back-to-school time which means it's time for school activities and centers to help your preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students get to know the classroom and supplies.
Lots of block activities for preschoolers and even toddlers using common blocks that are found in most homes - wooden blocks, Legos, and ABC blocks.
Welcome to finish it up Friday! Today's finish is a fun double zip boxy pouch. I bought the supplies at Stitch Supply Co. well over a year ago. I think I was a little intimidated by the double zipper, so I may have procrastinated a little bit. I'm so glad I finally took the time this week to sew it up. I LOVE a quilted panel on the outside of my zip pouches. Even though it takes extra time, it's totally worth it! This pattern calls for Pellon Flex Foam, which is quite spongy, so it creates a lot of opportunity for the fabric to shift during quilting. Thankfully I had some 505 spray on hand, which I used to keep the fabric in place while quilting the outer panels. It worked like a charm! My Hera marker (by clover) is one of my favorite tools for marking and it came in very handy for this project, too. I marked the fabric BEFORE I placed in on the foam, so I got a nice crisp line/crease to follow. It was fun to pick out two different fabrics for the lining... ....and two different colored zippers, too. The pattern is called the Annex double-zip box pouch by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness. The zip pouch shown in this post is the largest size. I'm excited to fill it with portable projects and use it! I don't think you can EVER have too many cute zip pouches. I was showing it to my husband last evening and he hinted that if I ever made a masculine looking one, he might be able to take it off my hands and find a use for it. Ha! I guess I'll have to keep that in mind. I'm thinking I might try it in vinyl, perhaps. Alright, that's it for me today. Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you, as always, for joining for me for finish it up Friday! Have a great weekend!
Woven Star Quit Block Finished size 12" Sample
10 fun play and learning literacy, math and creative activity ideas using Duplo blocks, suitable for toddlers, preschoolers and bigger kids.
Welcome to Stitchin Heaven’s Journeys BOM Month 9. You all have worked so hard. This month you will learn to use your Corner Beam tool. Sue Tucker & Naz are my helpers for Month 9. Print …
Kindergarten Math Made Fun Unit 9 is here, and it's all about SHAPES! This hands-on, engaging and FUN unit will get kids excited about basic shapes! Not
I am so excited to share with you that I am a blog ambassador for Lakeshore Learning! Over the next several months I am going to be sharing monthly Lakeshore products and this month I am featuring some of their STEM resources. First, what is STEM? STEM stands for: S- science T- technology E- engineering M- math The goal of STEM is to give the students the opportunity to interact with a challenge, project, or task that has some sort of real life application of those four disciplines. On the teacher's end, this can take A LOT of prep and planning, but Lakeshore offeres some prep-free resources that you can purchase for your convenience. Take a look at how I use these with my class! Design and Play STEAM Boats Kit I divided my class up into groups of 3 or 4 and they had to design a boat that could float. They were all given the same amount of supplies, but they could design their boat however they wanted. Before I gave them their supplies, they had to make a plan of how they were going to build their boat and what it would look like. Once they all agreed, they could start building. My students were COMPLETELY engaged as we tested each boat, and then "raced" them against each other, tournament style! We are studying the Titanic right now, so we even added some blocks to the water to represent "icebergs." Block and Blueprints Learning Center I was impressed watching my students use their spatial reasoning skills to follow the blueprints to build a structure. Some of them struggled at first, but it was really interesting how they eventually were able to figure it out. I have been leaving this at the back of my classroom for "early finishers" to use when they are done with their work. Family Engagement STEM Packs I decided to use the Family Engagement Stem Packs IN my classroom instead of sending them home. What's great is you can purchase the bundle, or buy each STEM challenge activity separately. The supplies in the pack can be used over and over, so it's perfect to use during centers or to send home as a family project. Each STEM pack focuses on a specific career. First, the students read a brochure that gives an overview of the career and STEM challenge. After they read the brochure and challenge, they made a plan of how they were going to solve the problem at hand. Once they make a plan, they TESTED it! The foldables are dry-erase, so the students could edit their plan easily. After they test it out, the students recorded their findings using prompts provided in the kit. To rotate through each STEM kit, I separated my students into groups of 6 and we did one stem challenge a day. They were OBSESSED! To celebrate my new partnership with Lakeshore, I have a 20% off coupon code for all of you to use on any one (non sale) product! Click HERE to grab your coupon! I am a blog ambassador for Lakeshore and am compensated for my work. I received product free of charge, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. SaveSave
I made these pattern block mats using Photoshop. Each mat comes in color and blackline, depending on your preference. The blackline mats offer more of a
This is my last 12" Saturday Sampler block for my "Chocolate Covered Strawberries" quilt...block #30. Block Name: Northern Flair (block #74) Block Pattern Source: Quiltmaker's 100 blocks magazine Block Designer: Gudrun Erla This was a fun block to sew. I felt like I was working on a jigsaw puzzle with all the little pieces in production and trying to get the 85 pieces in their proper places. I plan to make the quilt layout 5 blocks by 6 blocks but it was too dark last night to take a photo, so I'll do it sometime on the weekend. Today I am off to the blueberry patch!
Theme Of The Day: Rectangle Age: 21 months Squares Vs. Rectangles I created this page by tracing some of Honey Pot's Mega Blocks with marker...
This block design has been around for ages and there are a lot of different tutorials for this on the web. I’m providing this tutorial to show how I make my personal take on it. I did not invent th…
Welcome to Stitchin Heaven’s Journeys BOM Month 4 – Winged Nine Patch. My helper for Month 4 is Diane Marvin, Certified Instructor for Studio 180 Design. This month you are going to lea…
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy. Explore 31 unique pool noodle crafts that are easy and fun to make! Perfect
Hello cute people! It's time for another episode of "Tutorials by Miss Bee" I've just been waiting for the release of my new book... Spelling Bee so that I could hit the "publish" button on this tutorial to celebrate. I'm so excited to announce that my book will be hot off the press this week! For both of these blocks... I have used my new Bee Basics Bee Backgrounds and Bee Backings and Borders Fabric. In the book I have my typical 6" as well as 12" instructions for each and every block. There is no exception for my Schoolhouse Block... the same golden rule applies:) I'll show you how to make the 12" block and of course... the instructions are the same for the 6". First up...lets start by cutting for the windows on the 12" block. This fabric is in my Bee Backgrounds Collection and it works really well to fussy cut! Cut the square out on the dotted lines:) Windows: For 12" - H - Cut 2 - 2" x 3" For 6" - H - Cut 2 - 1 1/4" x 1 3/4" Grass: For 12" - I - Cut 2 - 1" x 4 1/2" For 6" - I - Cut 2 - 3/4" x 2 1/2" Steps: For 12" - J - Cut 1 - 1" x 3 1/2" K -M Cut 1 - 1" x 4 1/2" For 6" - J - Cut 1 - 3/4" x 2" K - Cut 1 - 3/4" x 2 1/2" Door: For 12" - L - Cut 1 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" For 6" - L - Cut 1 - 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" School Bell: For 12" - M - Cut 1 - 1 1/2" square For 6" - M - Cut 1 - 1" square Around the Door: For 12" - N - Cut 2 - 2 1/2" squares 0 - Cut 2 - 1" x 4 1/2" P - Cut 1 - 1" x 3 1/2" For 6" - N - Cut 2 - 1 1/2" squares O - Cut 2 - 3/4" x 2 1/2" P - Cut 1 - 3/4" x 2" Roof: For 12" - Q - Cut 2 - 2 1/2" squares R - Cut 2 - 3" x 6 1/2" For 6" - Q - Cut 2 - 1 1/2" squares R - Cut 2 - 1 3/4" x 3 1/2" Schoolhouse: For 12" - S - Cut 3 - 1" x 2 1/2" T - Cut 4 - 1 1/2" x 3" U - Cut 2 - 1 1/2" x 4" V - Cut 2 - 2" x 4" For 6" - S - Cut 3 - 3/4" x 1 1/2" T - Cut 4 - 1" x 1 3/4" U - Cut 2 - 1" x 2 1/4" V - Cut 2 - 1 1/4" x 2 1/4" Background: For 12" - A - Cut 2 - 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" B - Cut 2 - 2 1/2" x 5" C - Cut 2 - 3" squares D - Cut 2 - 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" E - Cut 1 - 1" x 2 1/2" F - Cut 2 - 1" x 1 1/2" G - Cut 2 - 1" squares For 6" - A - Cut 2 - 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" B - Cut 2 - 1 1/2" x 2 3/4" C - Cut 2 - 1 3/4" squares D - Cut 2 - 1" x 3" E - Cut 1 - 3/4" x 1 1/2" F - Cut 2 - 3/4" x 1" G - Cut 2 - 3/4" squares Yay! You are all cut out:) Lay all the pieces out on your design board like this and we will start piecing from the top down. All of the following step by step photos are very self explanatory ... especially if you have made my blocks before! So just look at the pictures and do what I do! And there you go! 12" Schoolhouse Block YaY!! (it should measure 12 1/2" square at this point) It fits right in with the other "Picture Blocks" in the book:) My bell turned out a little wonky... but I love it! I fussy cut the bell fabric so that the star would be in the center:) There are cute little baby chicks all over the door... maybe they were brought for show and tell...lol! Did you pre-order your copy? Don't miss the bus!! We will be having a Spelling Bee Sew Along starting later in the year. YaY! You can bet I've got a lot of surprises planned:) And for all of my die hard 6" block makers... a little brown schoolhouse! YaY!!! I super love the 6" blocks... yes...they are fussy but oh so cute! I hope you enjoyed this episode and thanks for tuning in:) Next week's episode is "Mama's Flower Garden" See you then! xx Lori
How to easily build a quick, effective, and beautiful command center in your home and increase organization in the process!
This is block 30 of 30!! Welcome to the final block in the series. Quilt block number 30 and my favorite Slow Tee Size Unfinished: 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" Finished Size: 10 x 10" Cut 6 rectangles 4 1/4" x 3" - 4 green / 2 white Cut 2 rectangles 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" - white Cut 4 squares 1 3/4" - 2 white / 2 green Stitch them together as laid out with 1/4" seams. Stitch the center squares together first, then sew the white 4 1/4" x 3" rectangles to the middle unit. Stitch the green outer rectangles to the large white rectangles and lastly, stitch the three rows of units together. I called this block Slow Tee for my plumber hubby and I dedicate it to him. He's put up with my dedication to this project by cooking, cleaning, shopping, and taking care of me and our family. This quilt is why I call this quilt block my favorite. 30 blocks in a 5 x 6 block grid with 5" unfinished borders. OH, yes, I will be making this one. There will be one more post to recap all we have accomplished. Thanks for following this journey, I hope it was as fun for you as it was for me.
My January monthly mini is made of Old Italian blocks (sometimes called X blocks). I think I first was introduced to this easy construction method on Barbara Black's blog here. I used her directions that call for 5" charm squares, with blocks finishing at 3". That makes this finish at 15"x18". Will link up with Wendy at The Constant Quilter blog when her Monthly Mini post goes up. I had received a gift of a lovely charm pack a few weeks ago. I pulled several squares from it, and a few more squares from a couple of other charm packs I had on hand. I ended up cutting six more blocks from my scrap baskets, trying to get a good variety of styles and colors. I chose a couple of Barbara Brackman grey/blues for the binding. I wanted it to look like a "make do" scrap quilt where I didn't have enough of one fabric for the binding (even though I did). But you can tell I wasn't real brave about it or I would have used two fabrics that didn't look so much alike. Oh, it was hard for me to resist continually rearranging the blocks to avoid like colors being next to each other. I am so proud of myself for leaving the two brightest blue blocks touching each other at their corners, and leaving a cluster of 3 red Xs next to a red block. It doesn't even bother me. (*twitch*twitch*) I don't know if you can tell from either photo that I just quilted in every single, stinkin' ditch. That is only 49 passes across this little quilt to get the diagonal lines and the lines between the blocks. And yes, in case you are wondering, I have not yet stained my mini quilt display rack. Eventually... I have the first row made of my "Every Little Bit" quilt, designed by Pam Buda (in magazine found here), along with 2 rows of sashing. I know I won't always be able to get a row made in a month, but I am grateful when I can find enough sewing time to make this kind of progress. These are 6" finished blocks and there are 52 different fabrics in each block. I realized that the two projects on my design wall are each designed by Pam Buda. I attended a retreat 7 years ago where she was the featured teacher. One of the days was spent working on the Settler's Puzzle quilt (on the right). It is designed as a 2 color quilt. I went rogue and cut mine in 3 colors, but after the retreat it spent a LOT of time in the closet. Two years ago I pulled it out and determined I would finish the blocks, which I did. A few months ago I pulled it back out and was working on the borders. I just had to do it--I HAD to add a fourth color, and I cut a dark green border. If I have enough, I may bind it in the same dark green. I really stall on borders, so I am leaving this on the wall until I force myself to get the borders attached. I can't even think of a way to close this post. Mom isn't doing well and I am emotionally spent. So there you have it. Until next time, be kind and generous in your attitude toward others--even those with whom you disagree. Janet O. Full moon rising over the Bear River Range of mountains on Thursday. The photo is a tad blurry, but it is a lovely view.
