Setting up the Block Area

Mary Hohmann and David P. Weikart

http://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/blocks/SettingUp.html 

Almost all children enjoy playing in the block area and can find something to do with blocks, whether or not they have ever played with them before. Young children with little prior experience enjoy taking blocks off the shelves, heaping them into piles, lining them up, stacking them, loading them into cartons, dumping them out, carrying them, and fitting them carefully back on the shelves. After they have had plenty of time to explore blocks, children begin to build all kinds of structures. With increasing thoughtfulness, they begin to experiment with balance, enclosure, patterns, and symmetry. They also combine blocks with little people, animals, and vehicles in make-believe play. Structures become houses and barns; lined-up blocks become roads and fences. As children play on their own and with others, adults recognize and support their exploration, imitation, spatial problem solving, sorting, comparing, and pretending.

Let’s Build! Activities for a Preschool Tools and Construction Theme

http://notjustcute.com/2011/03/11/lets-build-activities-for-a-preschool-tools-and-construction-theme/

Use a variety of building materials in addition to your standard unit blocks.  For examples, kids use pipes,  gutters , or large blocks for dramatic play.

pipes

gutters

Large Blocks

     Using large blocks (I made mine copying something like these…when I had just one toddler….who took long naps) build a creation against a wall and then outline the blocks using blue painter’s tape.  Ta-da!  You now have a full-scale blueprint!  Encourage children to follow the blueprint or create their own.  Other props in this theme might include hard hats, play tools, tool belts (Home Depot sells a tool apron for only $1), clip boards and pencils, real blueprints, phones/radios, orange cones, and caution tape.  You could also include a large appliance box and let your children use it to design and create their structure.

Unit Block Play

All About Unit Block Play

By Nancy P. Alexander

Understanding Unit Blocks Although there are numerous types of blocks on the market, unit blocks offer the most learning value. What is it about unit blocks that make them such an important part of any early childhood classroom? To begin with, unit blocks are proportional in size to develop mathematical concepts. They are available in various size sets according to the number of children who will use them. Unit blocks are made of hardwood with a natural finish and can therefore be expected to last many years. Values of Unit Blocks Children learn many concepts, especially math concepts, through block play. Play with blocks provides an excellent opportunity for social and physical development and enhances creativity. Following is a summary of the specific concepts and traits that children learn through block play: