Initiative, Engagement, Problem Solving
What does approaches to learning mean to me... Children will each take different steps towards the same outcome. It includes how they develop new skills, and their attitude towards learning. Each child learns in a different way and as a teacher I have to make my lessons enjoyable and developmentally appropriate.
Play-dough Shapes
Engagement 3+
Materials; Play-dough, utensils for dough. Beginning of Activity: Introduce shape of the week. Early: Use shape molds to form shape of the week with the dough. Middle: Children will create shapes with play dough using the play-dough utensils. Later: Create 3D shapes with the play-dough. End of Activity: Clean up to keep dough soft and ready to be enjoyed for next time. Follow-up Ideas: Use dough to make letters. Use dough to develop fine motor skills. |
Reach for the Stars
Problem Solving 3+
Materials: Stool, stars, butcher paper, stickers. Beginning of Activity: Talk about the problem you have. You can't reach the stars! Ask for ideas of how you can reach them. Early: Make a list in circle of how to reach the stars. Use those ideas(Teacher approved) to reach them. Middle: Children will come with ideas and use those ideas to reach the stars. Teacher supervises as they reach to put the stickers on the paper. Later: In groups children will come up with ideas of how to reach the stars. Then they will try to apply those ideas. End of Activity: Tell them its okay to ask for help. Follow-up Ideas: Use marble tracks-How to get the ball to the bottom. Read books where the child has to problem solve. |
Let the leaves Fall!Initiative 3+
Materials: Sensory bin, leaves from outside, magnifying glass. Early; Show initiative to look at the leaves Middle: Children will show initiative nd be curious about looking at the leaves. They can tear them apart, crinkle them to hear the sounds they make. Later: As they look at the leaves ask them more in depth questions. Have the children come up with ideas of why they fall or why they look/feel different. End of Activity: Answer any questions they may have about the leaves. Follow-up Ideas: Leaf prints. Leaf collage |