Irresistible Ideas for play based learning

The children really enjoy participating in group projects. Recently we were given a large box which we thought would make an ideal weaving loom, one big enough for several children to share at the same time.

We placed small cuts along the sides of the box and threaded it up with some shoe lacing we found in the tubs at the invention table.

We gathered together assorted recycled materials, and collected some interesting sticks which had fallen from the willow tree in our playground.

A terrific fine motor and cognitive activity, the children had to concentrate very hard on weaving the items under and over the strings in order for them not to fall out.

We could hear some of the children chanting …under, over, under, over, under, over!

The beauty of an activity like this is, once it has been completed or the children loose interest, you can undo the weaving, recycle the items for use in other activities, and recycle the box or store it to use for a weaving project another day.

We came across this great set of shadow boxes in a second hand shop and we have used them in a multitude of ways all over the kinder.

Here we teamed them with some very popular plastic insects we bought from a local discount store.  We set them up on the floor inside a large cardboard box lid lined with a laminated board we got from reverse art. It has a texture that resembles smooth pebbles set in concrete, so we added some more textures through natural materials and spread a soft cow hide on the floor for texture and comfort.

The children were able to move the boxes and props around to suit their play, adding extra bits & pieces from the shelves as needed.

Being down at floor level, where beetles and insects are found, made the children’s play more dramatic. As the floor takes away boundaries, the children were able to spread their play out as they marched their insects back and forth across the floor and around the table and chair legs nearby.

We witnessed some lovely imaginary play here and heard some great language as the children closely examined the insects, discussing their names and habitats.