Irresistible Ideas for play based learning

In this hot weather our thoughts turn to the beach.

We have popped up long lengths of blue material through the playroom which are reminiscent of waves and we thought we would add to the summery, beachlike feeling.

One of the children’s favourite books is “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, and after reading it to the children this week, we provided them with materials which they could turn into creatures from under the sea.

Using paper plates as a basis and lots of cellophane, streamers, felt tip pens and sticky dots, we were amazed at the variety of sea animals they invented.

Hanging them down amongst our ‘waves’ makes us feel as if we are under the sea.

And as they are under the spinning fans, they are creating some exciting movement!

We like to make our Christmas activities pretty simple and child oriented. We tend to pop lots of glitz out on the table and let them go for it!

In this case they could make wreaths if they wanted, so we put out paper plates, glue, patty pans, bells, recycled Christmas cards,  pipe cleaners, pom-poms, hole punches and curling ribbon and off they went. Naturally they were free to source other bits and pieces to use as well.

They came up with many and varied wreaths – some simple and others more complex.

They had a lovely time exercising both mind and body …

…  glueing …

… sticking …

… punching …

… attaching …

… twisting …

… threading …

… tying …

… and displaying. All so very unique … and …

… our first ever Christmas whale … TOO CUTE!

We had some paper plates left over from an eatfest, so popped them out on the table with containers of coloured tissue paper and glue.

We like to leave it up to the children to decide what they would like to do with the materials which we present and just see where they go with it – we find they often have much better ideas than we would have. Children are good at thinking outside the square.

They enjoyed dipping the tissue paper into the glue instead of the using the usual brush.

We were blown away with the variety of shapes and patterns the children came up with.  Some children enjoyed doing quite intricate work …

… while others went for the whole hand scrunch.

Sticky, slimy fingers – yummy!

Whatever way they went, they had fun!