Early Childhood
Toys From Trash
#STEMontheCheap at its best! Toys from Trash is an incredible collection of projects made with inexpensive materials. You will have to consider the minds-on ways you will use these projects to engage students but most work well with our IDEAS Engineering Journal. Harness the power of play! Toys from Trash Philosophy: Our core belief is…
Read MoreCaine’s Arcade
9-year-old Caine Monroy spent his summer vacation building an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad’s used auto parts store. The entire summer went by, and Caine had yet to have a single customer. Then, on the last day of summer, a filmmaker named Nirvan stopped to buy a door handle for his car. Nirvan became…
Read MoreVelcro Craft Sticks
Turn craft sticks into a fun construction toy using velcro dots.
Read MoreBlock Play: Practical Suggestions for Common Dilemmas – Full Article
Enhance block play by implementing developmentally appropriate teaching strategies to deal with the most common dilemmas associated with using blocks in the classroom. Includes a great summary page of suggestions.
Read MoreUsing Blocks to Develop 21st Century Skills
An in-depth article about using the long-standing, developmentally appropriate activity of block play to teach 21st Century Skills. Includes a checklist to evaluate your block play area around 21st Century Skills.
Read MoreBlock Puzzles
Make your own color block puzzles using Duplos and foam sheets. Do you think they have to be color specific?
Read MoreSponge Blocks Quiet Time Activity
Learn how to make your own sponge blocks for a quieter solution to block construction play time.
Read MoreDevelopmentally Appropriate Practice
Why is Block Play Important for Toddlers and Preschoolers? What are they learning? The progression of block play and concepts learned.
Read MoreLearning with Block Play
Ten things children learn from block play.
Read MoreBrilliant Block Play
Describes a variety of creative ways to use different kinds of blocks. Make your own magnetic blocks, use contact paper and foam blocks to take block play vertical, and much more.
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