What is play-based learning for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classrooms; early childhood education though play; play based learning philosophy.
Say goodbye to workbooks and hello to engaging letter recognition activities! Get outside and get creative while your child learns to identify their letters!
Discover materials and resources for your play-based curriculum; play resources for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classrooms.
30+ hands-on, playful and fun kindergarten activities. Check out this amazing list of learning activities for kids 5 to 7 years old.
Check out these free printable polar themed preschool worksheets to keep your preschooler engaged throughout the winter months while also working on those kindergarten readiness skills!
Kids will have fun learning about wedges and screws with this fun,hands on Wedges & Screws Simple Machines Lesson. Perfect for elementary age kids.
Teaching preschool students how to classify and sort builds strong reasoning skills. Unit 3 introduces classifying and sorting by categories such as
Use sensory bags in your classroom for mess-free learning and fun. Your kids will love learning and playing with hands-on sensory bags!
Teach teamwork and build community through play-based learning; collaborative play in preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classroom; taking turns in Pre-K.
Project/Inquiry Based Learning has been a passion of mine ever since I discovered it about 5 years ago. Since then, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and transformed the way I teach from a typical Thematic Based style through baby steps taken each year and with the help of an amazing on-line community of teachers with the same passion (you all know who you are!). My first baby step was taking themes and science/social studies standards and making them more student lead and project based. I got rid of the two week time limit each theme had in the past and allowed more time for students to dig deeper. I found that students would take my broad theme (oceans) and desire to dig deeper into more specific parts of the theme (sharks, jellyfish, ect.). As time went on, I was able to take the biggest step and totally let go of my themes and allowed the children's interests drive my instruction, incorporating the standards through those interests. I am blessed enough to also teach in a district that does not mandate the curriculum I use. Curriculum programs are purchased to use as tools for our toolbox but not required. Us teachers are trusted and encouraged by our superintendent to write our own curriculum as long as the standards are met. My building principle also has that kind of faith in us as professionals! They know that when it comes to children learning what they need to learn, we are the experts! Project/Inquiry Based Learning is highly encouraged in all grades Pre-K through 12. Some wonder how I plan for this style of teaching and how it flows. Here are some of the tools that I use. Once I notice an interest from the students (usually found out through experiences set up for them to explore during play) , I find out what their knowledge and misconceptions are about the subject. Kind of like a KWL chart! I list all that they know about the subject we will dive into. Then I ask what they wonder. I list all of their questions. NOW I can plan! I take their wonderings and create a web map showing the different directions they want to take the inquiry and possible experiences that will help them find answers to their wonderings. I got this web map from the amazing Joanne Babalis and her amazing blog http://myclassroomtransformation.blogspot.com. On the back I have all of the Literacy and Math Standards listed so that I can highlight the ones we will focus on through the inquiry and project. I add any Science and Social Studies Standards to the bottom of the web map. Here is the link to the web map if you would like it: Web Organizer Here is the link to the Common Core Standards Sheet for Kindergarten Language and Math: Kindergarten CC Standards Once I organize my thoughts, I create my inquiry plan using a template I created based on one I found from a Texas school district. It was so long ago I have no memory of which district but if I find out I will add them to give them credit. Their form was 3 pages long. I tweaked it to fit it all on one page. I use this to show the objectives and vocabulary, plan the investigations and materials I will need, show how they will organize the data about what they have learned, possible projects that could result from the inquiry and how we will present the project to the community. Here is the link to this inquiry planner if you would like to download it: Inquiry/Project Planner The next step is to start the investigation phase. In early childhood I set out experiences for them to explore and document what they notice. We also do whole group and small group investigations through books, videos and hands-on experiences. As we answer questions, we add the answers to our wonder chart to show our new learning. We organize this data in a web map format for all to see. The start of an inquiry wall. Information is added to it as we learn. Once we have investigated we use organizational maps to show what we learn. In kindergarten it usually consists of web maps, circle maps, tree charts (can/have/are maps), and brace maps (to show part to whole). We will chose one or two to organize our data. The next step is the project. We take what we learn and create something to show it! The projects can be individual, small group, or whole group. Some examples of projects in our room have been turning an area of our room into an ocean, forest and sky to show how animals adapt in the winter. The kids signed up to be on the migration team, adaption team or hibernation team. They each became experts on their part during the investigation and worked on their part of the project. A cave, forest, sky and ocean were created to show what animals do in the winter. Animals were created, labeled and added to the habitats. A group interested in map making and migration created this map showing migration patterns of monarchs, geese and grey whales. Another project was our The Sound Exploration Area created for our school. They saw a need (an area to explore sound) investigated different ways of creating sound, organized the data and designed a Sound Exploration Area! An area for everyone in our school to explore sound which is in our science standards. They have also turned the inside of our room into a great hall and medeival kitchen and the outside of our room into a castle wall complete with moat and drawbridge after investigating castles! The outside of our castle. A map created by a group interested in maps and where different castles were found in the world. A big book created by a small group about who lived in castles. A small group project during our castle inquiry. They have created murals and big books to show their learning also. A mural planned and created by Kindergartners. The last step is the presentation to show what they had learned. The kids LOVE this part and I've never had a child refuse to present! They are so confident of what they have learned and proud of what they have done that they cannot wait to share it! I am always so impress with their speaking and listening skills during these presentations! Sometimes small groups go to other classrooms and present what they learned, sometimes we invite parents or other classes to our room to see our presentation, and sometimes we create a video to share with others. They create maps, big books, and, get to show off the projects created at this time! Showing what they have learned through these projects gives the projects an even bigger sense of purpose! They can't wait to show others what they have learned and done! Presenting different weapons used during medieval times. I have never had so much fun teaching in my 22 years as I have he past four years! I could never go back to the way I had done it I the past. The benefits of this way of teaching are not only meeting the standards (the old way did that too) but the 21st Century Skills they are forced to develope when they learn in this type of environment. When inquiring, investigating and creating within thier own interest, they are motivated to collaborate, problem solve, handle frustration, persist if things don't work the first time, and learn from their mistakes. They have to use critical thinking skills and develope research skills. When kids develop these skills, they can learn ANYTHING! My new passion that I am learning to incorporate in my classroom is Playbased Learning! I have been amazed by the learning taking place in this way also....but that's another post! SaveSave
ALL ABOUT ME & MY COMMUNITY I absolutely love teaching All About Me and My Community ! In this unit we cover four themes that are so much fun: All About Me, All About My Family, All About Community Helpers and When I Grow Up. You all know that I love thematic teaching units , and this
2D shape activities for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten. Shape mats (legos, geoboards, etc), play dough mats, posters, sorting mats, worksheets, & MORE.
Components of classroom setup that are key to play-based learning; learning environment for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten; setting up pre-k classroom.
Check out these free printable polar themed preschool worksheets to keep your preschooler engaged throughout the winter months while also working on those kindergarten readiness skills!
Learn what language and literacy skills typically develop by age 5 according to each of the 50 states.
This Math Counting Bear Activity Pack is for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten children. Over 60+ pages of play-based learning activities. Activities Included: Color Matching Cards 1 - 20 Counting Mats 0 - 20 Build, Trace, and Write Number 40 Finish the Pattern Strips Addition Mat Subtraction Mat Less Than Mat Greater Than Mat 44 Counting Bear Cards for Graphing 5 Different Style of Graphs
Are you looking for a super fun way add a bug and insect theme to your dramatic play area? Find ideas to create an entomology lab dramatic play area setup. Your kids will love playing and learning in
This FREE class about "free-flowing" centers will help you increase learning and save time with independent Pre-K & Kindergarten centers!
Use this free printable to create a rock collection container from a simple egg carton and get ideas for over 20 fun learning activities with rocks. Are you looking for some fun, easy, and inexpensive
Components of classroom setup that are key to play-based learning; learning environment for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten; setting up pre-k classroom.
We spent lots of time identifying, describing, and sorting three-dimensional objects. Many of our families contributed to our 3D figures museum in the classroom. During the math inquiry our goal wa…
Have fun reading, doing math, and developing social interactions with this Restaurant Dramatic Play Activity and FREE printables!
Enjoy these 10 Easy Apple-Themed Crafts for Preschoolers at home for the month of September! Perfect for art time at home and ties in perfectly with My Pre-K Box's September box, The Apple Box!
Download your FREE SPRING and GARDEN themed worksheets for your preschoolers aged 3-5! Ten worksheets are included in this Garden Preschool Fun Pack!
Want to create simple science areas for preschoolers? Learn how to create a fun science center to keep your kids engaged and learning!
Need ideas for how to teach coding and robotics to your preschooler? Check out these simple and fun preschool coding and robotics activities that require minimal prep that you can try at home today!
A discussion about play-based literacy learning in the kindergarten classroom. What that looks like, what it means and how it works in my classroom.
A BUNDLE of bright, engaging and interactive digital resources to practice counting to 20! PowerPoint, Google Slides and pre-loaded SeeSaw activity included!
A sample preschool schedule for at home learning for the week of Hh is for Heart. Learn and love together through heart themed activities, books, and more.
Create a construction site dramatic play area in your room! Plus how to sneak in tons of literacy, math, and STEM too! Use materials you already have in your classroom.
Looking for a fun, simple introduction to music for kids? This free printable music booklet is a playful way to learn music theory.
How to teach your kids to cut with scissors in preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten. The proper sequence of cutting skills to help kids be successful.
This fun science experiment explores the nature of blubber and how it keeps animals warm in the cold weather areas of the world! It's the perfect winter science experiment for preschoolers to do at home!
Play Based Learning is an approach to teaching that focuses on children’s natural curiosity and desire to explore their world. It is a way of thinking about education that promotes the importance of play and discovery. In this blog post you'll get some tips on how to start with play based teaching.
Are you looking for a super fun way add a bug and insect theme to your dramatic play area? Find ideas to create an entomology lab dramatic play area setup. Your kids will love playing and learning in
In my play based classroom there are 10 essential learning areas. I cannot do without them. The provocations and resources offered in these areas change throughout the year dependent on children's interests and the curriculum intent. The placement of these 10 areas within the classroom is thoughtf
Recently I cam across a Dr. Jean poem that really speaks to me. It is called "What's The Point?" and although it references kindergarten, it could really describe any primary grade. It speaks to this "top down" curriculum that has teachers pushing more and more developmentally inappropriate academics on students so that one day they might do well on a standardized test. Read the blog post where she shared this poem here! And if you click on the pic you can download this version of it. It's one of those things that is really hard to believe if you think about it. It's gotten to the point that I've seen teachers - good teachers! - go from having center time and cooking experiments and lots of songs and stories to having students sitting all day, filling out worksheet packs because "they have to be ready for 1st grade". And the 1st grade teachers are coming down and telling kindergarten teachers what they need to be pushing because the 2nd grade teachers are breathing down THEIR necks! Third grade teachers are asking 2nd grade teachers to start pushing more and more skills because of that darned test that assesses children in things that they just might not be ready for! But the thinking becomes, "If they fill out a 120 chart every day then eventually they will master the number concepts involved." or "If they do 30 addition problems every day and memorize their facts then they will be prepared for the test." without regard to whether the child actually UNDERSTANDS why 4+5=9. Or "If we push sight words so that they can read 200 words in kindergarten it will help on the test." regardless of the fact that forcing the rote memorization of all those sight words might turn a child off of reading forever. Students are held in at recess to complete those packs of worksheets that they couldn't focus on during class - because somehow, being forced to sit still for even longer will make them focus better the rest of the day or "teach them" to focus in the first place! It becomes a case of, "The brightest minds in the class can complete the worksheet packet in 20 minutes (meaning they probably didn't even need the practice!) so if I give the rest of the class twice that amount of time, they should be able to finish it. And those that are overwhelmed or lost or space out will just have to learn to keep up with the rest of the class or miss out on every social and/ or physical activity until they do!" And God forbid that anyone come by our classroom and see that we are not knee deep in some kind of obvious learning activity - ie worksheet - because if it doesn't look difficult, serious and quiet then it can't possibly be teaching anyone anything. On the contrary! Our classrooms should be loud, fun, and organized chaos! Learning isn't quiet! It isn't solitary! It isn't boring! When we want a baby to learn to roll over or crawl we don't shut them in a quiet place without distractions. No, we get them the shiny, noisy toys to attract their attention and we encourage them to scoot just an inch closer and then we celebrate like crazy so that they'll scoot another inch. How do we go from THAT to thinking that a child can possibly learn in a quiet room with just a pencil/paper? In my pre-k class this year we do play-based learning. We have long recesses, even longer center times and nap time! And yet, my students are learning! On the playground they run up to me with sticks to show me how they can form different letters out of them. At the art easel they paint letters from their friends' names. They can be heard counting out blocks at the Lego table to make sure everyone has an equal amount of the coveted yellow ones so that its fair. At the dollhouse, the finger puppet theater was appropriated so that the dolls could put on a stage act of Little Red Riding Hood. These are activities that the children think up on their own and CHOOSE to do, because they are allowed to explore and play and internalize the "lessons". And those "lessons" consist of reading stories aloud, singing songs, and dancing. Every child in my class has learned to write their name - with one capital letter and the rest lowercase - without a SINGLE name worksheet. Without a SINGLE actual lesson. Instead they see their name in print everywhere, they learn how to form the letters from fun songs and videos and they are encouraged to write with markers, chalk, crayons and paint brushes or even with sticks in the mud on the playground! In fact, I recently purchased a HeidiSongs Alphabet dvd (love the children's artwork in the videos!). On Friday we sat down to check out the songs with our dry erase boards and markers. I encouraged the children to write the letters as we played the songs. I watched for the kids to get squirrelly or disinterested, but they loved watching the videos and hearing the different songs so we made it all the way to Z. This is what 4 and 5 year olds can learn to do without ever touching a tracing sheet! Not one of these babies was able to write a single letter in August! So my message for today is to STOP and THINK and decide for yourself what the best way to teach is. I'm not saying to ignore your admin or to not do what your district mandates. I AM saying that if you think about it, and work on it, you will be able to incorporate play and dancing and singing into your classroom and STILL achieve learning. In fact, the learning gains your students make will be even more dramatic than if you have them filling out worksheet packets every day, I promise! I'm going to be doing a series of posts on play based learning, and what it can look like in your classroom, so please follow my blog and let's take this journey together - to prove that play belongs back in the classroom and that the ONLY way to get our children to "do well on the test" is by letting them engage in fun, developmentally appropriate activities that trigger their innate learning drives!
FUN shape activity for preschoolers using printable road shape mats and hotwheels for learning shapes with a car activity for toddlers.
Learn important Kindergarten skills while exploring the wild with these camping-themed worksheets from our Camping Preschool Fun Pack! And best of all, you can get it for FREE!
Learn the do's and don'ts of teaching your child how to write their name! Read about the 3 stages of learning their name, at what age they should write their name, and the best activities to teach your preschooler their name!
Free printable Shapes Playdough mats for toddlers & preschoolers. A fun play based way for children to learn their shapes.
I have some fabulous pre-writing, fine motor, & literacy light table ideas for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students.
