This week in shale we started off our new big idea of building and stacking. We provided loose materials such as blocks, nuts and bolts, magnets, sensory bottles, books, small tree stumps, etc. We would place them out in a way that draws the children towards them and then facilitate stacking the materials. After a couple children took interest in what we were doing they would try on their own, taking one piece of material at a time and placing it onto another and then continuing until the small tower fell over, “uh oh”, “what happened?”, “try again” we would say to encourage them to keep going.
Stacking and building creates opportunities to enhance:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Fine motor skills
- Problem solving
- Creativity
- Self control
- Literacy
- Symbolic representation
- Stability and balance
As children first began to build, they typically place the blocks directly in front of each other. Blocks are placed side-by-side in rows or stacked in towers. Young toddlers usually only start off by stacking 2-3 blocks or objects at a time then will knock it over and start again.
As we continue building and stacking we will provide different shape materials and different sizes to encourage and explore multiple ways of building and stacking objects.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Cassi, Young, Sarah and Michelle
