Creating Blue Prints for Block Play

Block Play

The bock center can be the busiest center in a preschool classroom.  Preschool children love playing with blocks because it is away for them to express and create their thoughts and ideas.   

Block Play helps children to develop

motor skills
hand-eye coordination
fosters creativity
enhances problem solving skills
builds social skills
builds cooperation

Children have big ideas and when there is a lot of children in the block center that is a lot of ideas.

Teaching children how to make plans will help children to explore new ideas and work together towards a common goal.  It allows children to share their ideas and thought in the process.

Blue Print Planning Process
At the beginning ask children what they want to build and make a list with them of all their ideas.

Next have them come up with their plan how they will create their ideas.  Draw what they come up with on a large sheet of paper.
*Where- they will place certain structures
*How- they will create each structure
*Who-will build in each area

Use sticky notes to show who will be building each area of the plan and what they choose to use to create their area with.

As they begin their building and constructing continue to ask open ended  questions and facilitate during their play. This will allow the children to continue  thinking and create and extend their play.

As children use the blue print plans in their play children make decisions and choices during play.  They will begin to incorporate planning into their play that will lead to continuity and progression in their everyday play.