Is it just block PLAY?

Yes it is PLAY but is it really JUST play

First we need to learn how to articulate what children are learning through play, so that when an administrator walks into our classrooms and ask us what is the objective we can unwavering give them a well stated objective. 

As standards keep getting pushed down our early childhood classroom environments are starting to look a lot different. 

Home Centers and Block Centers are disappearing.  

Or if they are there they are not being used in fear that there is not enough time in the day to get it all in. 

As teachers of young children we need to fight and advocate that children learn through play.


But...

Let's start by looking at our block centers since I feel that Block Play is an essential part of the early childhood curriculum because it stimulates learning in all domains of development.
Like..

Social Development and Language Development

When I Play with Blocks I learn...

• I actively and intentionally cooperate with other peers
  
• I learn to create more complex sequences of pretend play that involves planning and coordination of roles.
  
• I learn to negotiate with others.
• I expand my expressive language as I talk about what I am building and constructing.

Motor Development

• I build my motor development
• I learn about visual perception
• I learn about spatial orientation
• I build my fine motor coordination

Math Skills

• I learn math vocabulary like...(big, bigger, biggest) (Tall, taller, tallest) (long, longer, longest)
• I learn about size through the natural process of building.
• I learn about shapes and how putting shapes together can form new shapes.
• I learn to create and repeat patterns.
• I learn to count and place object in order.
• I learn to solve problems.

• I learn how to come up with a plan.
  
• I see that my ideas can take form.
• I learn that print carries specific meaning.
• I learn that print is read.
• I demonstrate write like behavior.

When we add Blue Prints

If we are being intentional about what we are adding to their play, we could then say that it is Intentional Play right.   

When we are adding to their block play it becomes so much more.

When we add Paper and Markers

• I demonstrate that I can write letters that represent words.
  
• I build my understanding that letters have sounds and form words.

• I learn about numbers as I reconstruct my neighborhood.
• I learn about different types of homes and buildings.  

Science Skills

When we add Ramps

When we add Measuring Tools

• I learn about gravity and slops.
• I learn about the physics of motion.
• I am learning about Newton's Law of Motion first hand.  That an object at rest stays at rest and and object in motion stays in motion.
• I learn about structural engineering.  
• I learn about balance as I stack and re-stack blocks.
• I demonstrate curiosity and an increased ability to raise questions about objects.
• I demonstrate and increased ability to make predictions and check them. 

• I learn to expand my understanding by comparing and measuring objects.
• I make a greater variety of observation with measurement tools.
• I learn how to use measuring tools as I recognize numbers and there order. 
• I demonstrate an increased ability to make inferences and form generalizations based on evidence. 

So...

If we start to say that we are fostering Intentional Play may be just may be they will start to listen.

When we are intentional about their play children are able to go through the process of wrong ideas so that they can reach certain correct ideas on their own. 

When we are intentional about their play we are giving them the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of how things work and what is correct when they are given the opportunity to explore what is incorrect.

As we watch and observe children in their natural play and then intentionally  provide them with other objects like ramps, gears, tape and loose parts so that children have the opportunity to experiment which will allow them to think more deeply about their learning.  

We...

are intentional teachers who foster intentional play that will build   life long learners.