Loose Parts for Active Play & Learning

August 29, 2018 by discountschoolsupply

The theory of loose parts was first put forward by Simon Nicholson in the 1970s, and states that the creative potential of an environment increased with the number and variety of flexible materials within it. Loose parts are defined as materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. Loose parts can be natural or synthetic and manufactured. They are materials with no specific set of directions that can be used alone or combined with other materials. Loose parts can include a variety of simple equipment pieces. Think balls, hoops, ropes, cones, parachutes, scarves, bean bags. You can enrich your existing play environment with the addition of mobile and low cost active play equipment.

We traditionally use simple equipment to play structured games with rules, but I want you to think about letting the children use these open-ended materials for unstructured play, creating and designing their own challenges and games. What if you put out some balls, hoops, scarves, bean bags…

The children may become curious about what the materials are and how to use them. They will then begin to explore the materials in different ways using their imaginations and strengthening their problem-solving skills. This leads to discovering that the materials can do many things. Discovery results in pleasure. Pleasure results in repetition. This process of curiosity, exploration, and discovery is the cycle of learning.

Now, I could give you an awesome list of what the children came up with, but I’m not going to do that. I want to suggest that you observe and acknowledge their creations, celebrating their discoveries and experiments. Perhaps the next day add another loose part (i.e., a rope). The ideas of loose parts you can use is only limited by your and the children’s imaginations.

Benefits of Loose Parts:

Enables children to manipulate their environment, to experiment, and to interact with materials
Helps children actively construct knowledge from their own experiences.
Encourages interaction among children and cooperative play
Increases risk-taking, conflict resolution, and communication
Deepens critical thinking and problem solving
Promotes divergent and creative thinking
More symbolic and imaginative play
Supports gross and fine motor skills
Developmentally inclusive

Give children the time, space, and an ample variety of loose parts to discover and create with.

Loose parts are all about active play and learning!

Product Recommendations:

High-Bounce Play Balls Set of 6 (BOUNCE)

Excellerations Brawny Tough Rainbow Parachutes (P6)

Brawny Tough Activity Hoops (HOOPSET)

Zebra Hoops Set of 6 (HULA)

Nylon Jump Ropes (RPST)

Rainbow Movement Scarf Classroom Pack (SCARFSET)

Excellerations Super Sensory Beanbags Set of 12 (COOLBEAN)

Colored Beanbags Set of 12 (CBB)

Colored Cones Set of 10 (SETC)

Streamer Ribbons & Scarves – A Rainbow of Fun!

May 17, 2017 by discountschoolsupply

rnbw

Put a scarf or ribbon in a child’s hand and movement automatically begins! Dance, leap, run, twirl, spin, gallop, jump, throw, catch – the active play it provides is never ending! I highly recommend that you have enough scarves or ribbons for each child to have one for each hand.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes:
Promotes cross-lateral movements (midline development)
Develops body and spatial awareness
Directionality
Laterality
Gross and fine motor coordination
Eye-hand coordination
Moderate to vigorous physical activity
Agility
Flexibility
Listening skills
Cooperative play
Creativity
Imagination

Movement Exploration and Creative Movement
Using one ribbon or scarf, move it…

Up and down
Side to side
In a circle
In a figure 8
Above your head
Below your knees
Between your legs
At your side
In front of you
Behind you
Like a broom (moving it side to side in front of body)
Like a fishing pole (casting or throwing it out in front of body)
Like a hammer (moving it up and down with quick wrist movements)
Like ocean waves (shaking it in front of body)
Like a rainbow (moving it in an arc from one side of body to the other
Like a river (dragging it across the floor or ground)
Like tree branches in a windstorm (hold it above the head and swaying from side to side)
Like a tornado (spinning around and raising and lowering it)

swish

Dance, Dance, Dance
Start the music and encourage the children to dance and move about freely in the open space. When the music stops, they are to freeze (stand motionless like a statue). When the music starts again, children resume dancing. Try to trick the dancers by starting and stopping the music quickly. They love the element of surprise! Music suggestions: “I Like To Move It” by Crazy Frog (fast dancing – suggest dancing using locomotor movements—jumping with two feet, hopping, jogging). “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland (slow dancing – suggest twirling, leaping, and floating to the music).

On Your Mark, Get Set, RUN!
With streamer ribbon or scarf in hand held high above head, have children run from one boundary to another. What child doesn’t like to run! They will ask to do it again and again. Music suggestion: “Colors of the Wind” from Disney’s movie, “Pocahontas.”

Follow the Leader
Have children stand in a line one person behind the other. When the music starts, the child at the head of the line does a movement with the scarf or streamer and all children behind the leader will move their scarf in the same way as the leader (i.e., waving scarf overhead, jumping with the streamer, swinging arms back and forth with scarf, etc.) When the music stops, the child that was at the front of the line goes to the back of the line and the next child in line becomes the leader. The music starts again and the game continues until everyone has had a chance to be the leader. Music suggestion: “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.

Tails
Set up boundaries using ropes or cones in the available space. Each child tucks a streamer or scarf into their waistband behind their back. The ribbon is now their tail. The game starts when the music starts and the children run in the available space. The game is played like tag, but instead of tagging each other, children pull each others ribbon out of their waistbands and drop them to the ground. The child whose ribbon is pulled, picks up his streamer ribbon (tail), goes to “the tail repair area” (a designated spot, i.e., door, tree, etc.) to replace the tail in their waistband. Once the ribbon or scarf is secure in their waistband, the child returns to the game and resumes pulling tails (ribbons/scarves). Music suggestion: “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer.

Discount School Supply® Product Recommendations

Rainbow Dancing Wrist Bands (RNBW)
Streamer Scarves (SWISH)

Rollin’ in the New Year Roller Board Style

January 19, 2017 by discountschoolsupply

02961_0b

The roller board, aka scooter board, is a super-duper piece of equipment to acquire. Inclement weather—pouring rain, snow flurries or freezing temperatures—can keep us inside. Pull out the roller board and add it to your environment for indoor play. Here are 10 rockin’ and rollin’ ideas and activities appropriate for three to five year olds. First, though, some safety considerations and benefits:

Safety Recommendations:

Only sit or lay on the roller board
Never let a child stand on a roller board
Keep hands clear from the bottom of the roller board
Use handles to carry the roller board
Tie back long hair and tuck in loose clothing
Check wheels regularly
Prevent roller boards from crashing into others

Benefits:

Upper body strengthening (arms, legs and hands)
Core strengthening
Motor planning
Balance
Bilateral coordination
Physical endurance
Tactile stimulation
Kinesthetic stimulation
Vestibular stimulation
Crossing midline skills
Eye-hand coordination

27777b

And now for the activities!

Movement Exploration Experiences

Have children explore different ways to move around the space using the roller board.

One hand on roller board
Two hands on roller board
Two hands and one knee on roller board
Kneel on roller board
Sit on roller board, move backwards
Sit on roller board, move forward
Lie on stomach (prone position), move forward
Lie on stomach, move backwards

Hoop Ball Shooting

Place Hoop Ball Goal in open space
Child sits on roller board holding a ball
Child moves forward using feet to the Hoop Ball Goal and attempts to shoot the ball into the hoop
As the child becomes more proficient, challenge him/her to move farther way from the hoop (no more than six to eight feet)

Rope Pull

Adult holds one end of a long jump rope
Rope goes under roller board and between wheels
Child takes prone position (lying on stomach) on roller board and grips rope at opposite end from the adult
Child pulls self toward adult using a hand-over-hand grip on the rope. Feet do not touch the floor

Puzzle Piece Play

Scatter puzzle pieces at one end of the room or space
Place the corresponding puzzle boards at the other end
Child sits on roller board
child moves around space using feet, finds and grasps a puzzle piece
Child travels with puzzle piece to find the matching puzzle board and puts the piece into its place
Game continues until all the puzzles have their matching pieces

Roller Board & Cone Obstacle

Set up three cones in a line about 3-4 feet from each other
Child takes prone position on roller board and uses hands and arms to propel roller board around cones and back to starting position. Body is balanced on roller board, feet do not touch floor, and hands and arms work in rhythmic coordination.
Child can try the same challenge sitting on knees on the roller board.

Free Ride

Child sits cross-legged on roller board
Child holds a hoop and adult pulls the child around
Speed of travel depends on the child’s stability on the roller board and his or her enjoyment of speed

Fly Like an Eagle

Need large, clear space to play
Child takes prone position on roller board
Tell child he/she is going to “fly like an eagle” across the room or down a long hallway
Adult holds on to child’s feet and gives child a big push
Child will have to work hard to keep head, arms (held out like wings), and legs lifted while moving forward

Body Bowling

Set up bowling pins at one end of the room
Just like in the “Fly Like and Eagle” activity above, child takes prone position on the roller board
Child keeps arms out in front (i.e. a superman “flying” position)
Adult holds onto child’s feet and gives child a big push forward
Child attempts to knock down the bowling pins

Grocery Shopping

Scatter plastic fruits and vegetables around the room
On the opposite end of the room, place rainbow colored baskets
Child sits on roller board
Child moves around space using feet and picks up a fruit or vegetable
Child travels with the piece of play food and puts it into the matching colored basket
Game continues until all of the fruits and vegetables have been “bought.”

Crazy Driver

Mark of a path or road using Mavalus Removable Poster Tape. Create a single line of tape or two lines to form a “lane” for the child to stay in. Make curves, zigzags, twists or turns.
Challenge child to “drive” along the road either in prone position, sitting on knees, or sitting on bottom

Product Recommendations

Roller Board (ROLLIT or ROLLUS)
16′ Nylon Jump Rope (JMPRP16)
25′ Diameter Floor Goal (SLAMDUNK)
9″ Basketball (BBALL)
High-Bounce Play Balls (BOUNCE)
Knob Puzzle (TPUZSET)
Brawny Tough Activity Hoops (HOOPSET)
Colored Cones (SETC)
Soft Bowling Set (BWLSET)
Life-Sized Fruit & Vegetables Set (FOODSET)
Classroom Activity Baskets (CATCHY)
Mavalus Removable Poster Tape (MAVALUS)
Child Trike Helmet – Red (HLMTR)

Frozen! Winter Art Activities

February 19, 2015 by discountschoolsupply

Yes, the children will let you know that the blockbuster Disney movie, Frozen, can be an inspiration for anything and everything cold and icy. You don’t need any cryokinetic powers to produce ice and snow. Depending on where you live, just venture outside or open the freezer. Most of these activities take little or no preparation…and remember, it’s the process, not the finished product…so “Let It Go” if you think the end result is for children to make something that looks like something recognizable (i.e., providing a pattern of a snowflake or snowman to use with the art medium). Have fun discovering the science in these activities while exploring with art! As Olaf said, “Some people are worth melting for.” I think the children will agree.

Rainbow Snow Painting
Fill spray bottles half full with Colorations® Liquid Watercolor™ (do not dilute the color by adding water). If you have snow, go outside and have fun spray-painting snow. If it gets too cold and fingers in mittens don’t work too well with the trigger sprayers (my favorite sprayers are the ones from Ace® Hardware), let the children scoop the snow in buckets and bring it inside to your water table. Spray away. Observe how the colors blend to make new colors. Way cool!

Paintsicles
Squeeze Colorations® Liquid Watercolor™ or BioColor® into ice cube trays. Cover trays with aluminum foil and insert craft sticks (poke through foil) into each cube. Place trays in freezer overnight. Pop paintsicles out of the trays. Provide heavy white paper or tagboard and using the craft stick as a handle, children paint the entire paper with bright blocks of color.

Ice Designs
Draw designs on heavy white paper with a washable marker. Using plain ice cubes, children “paint” over the designs and watch how the colors soften and blend..Ice Castles
Materials Needed:
Ice—cubes, blocks, etc.
Table salt
Rock salt
Kosher salt (optional)
Eye droppers
Colorations® Liquid Watercolor™
Sensory tub or water/sand table
Small containers/cups to hold the salt and Liquid Watercolor™

Procedure:

Freeze water in a variety of sizes and shapes of empty containers—plastic bowls, jello molds, cardboard milk containers, ice cube trays, etc. In cold climates, children could put the containers of water outside to freeze.
Empty the ice shapes and ice cubes into the sensory tub or water table.
Place small cups of salt and rock salt in the tub.
Place small cups of Liquid Watercolor™ in tub. Add an eye dropper to each cup.
Problem solve with the children how best to use the ice to form ice castles, deciding which blocks of ice would be best on the bottom and which would work better on the top. Children can sprinkle the salt on top of each chunk of ice before adding another piece. Talk with them about how the salt begins to melt the ice. Then when another piece is added, the water refreezes and becomes part of the newly added piece of ice, helping it to stick together creating ice castles.
Children then use the droppers to drop the Liquid Watercolor™ into the cracks and holes created by the rock salt and salt making a colorful kingdom.

Learning Outcomes/Desired Results:

Cognitive-Science – Cause and Effect: Discuss the chemical reaction that ice has when salt is sprinkled on it. Salt lowers the freezing point of ice, causing it to melt.
Cognitive-Science – Cause and Effect: Solids transforming into liquids.
Cognitive-Science – Cause and Effect: Mixing primary colors (red, yellow and blue) you make the secondary colors (orange, green and purple).
Physical-Fine Motor Skills: Using small muscles (pincher grasp) in fingers to squeeze the bulb of the dropper and to pick up grains of salt and chunks of rock salt.
Physical-Fine Motor Skills – Eye-Hand Coordination: Hands and eyes working together to accomplish a task; using fingers to manipulate dropper with color and squirting colors into salt crevices.
Cognitive-Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: Some children will have difficulty in figuring out how to get the color into the dropper and then onto the ice. Handling the eye dropper will be a challenge, so they should be shown how to use it and encouraged to keep trying until they succeed.
Language Development: Children talk excitedly about what they see happening.
Encourages creativity and persistence.
Social/Emotional Development: Fostered as this is an open-ended activity with no right or wrong way to do this activity. It promotes children’s self-esteem.

Nature’s Frozen Beauty
Freeze nature items (leaves, pine needles, flowers, berries, small rocks) in silicone cupcake liners or an aluminum or silicone cupcake/muffin tray. Let the children put items (flower, leaf, etc.) of their choice into each of the cupcake liners. Then fill them halfway with water. Before putting them into the freezer or outside, insert a paper clip (open half-way) into each cupcake liner that will be used to hang up the frozen decorations. Once frozen, pop them out of their mold (cupcake liner or tray) and decorate your outdoor environment by having the children hang them on tree branches, fences or whatever else will support the icy decoration. As the temperature warms up and the sun comes out, the children will observe and discover what happens to their once frozen beautiful decorations.