Each week the children have 'BUILDING TIME'. They explore and play with a variety of different types of blocks and building materials. Building develops fine motor skills, encourages critical thinking and reasoning and it builds spatial awareness which is very important for life! Building with a partner encourages sharing of materials and ideas and considering others' perspectives. Building also develops focus and concentration and it allows children to try and try again - it builds perseverance!! We create challenges for the children based on picture books we read, science concepts we learn and math skills we are developing.
A recent 'Building Time Challenge' had the children re-tell the story "Where Are You?" by author/illustrator Sarah Williamson . After we read the book, the children were challenged to create a structure with a partner and play hide and seek with their worms (characters from the book). This allowed them to learn and use positional language. "Where are you?" "I am above/under/behind/beside the tower". (Click the hyperlink above to listen to the story!)