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It is important to understand that there is not a guarantee that children will learn through play and learn absolutely everything they need to know in education without guidance. "Providing opportunities for children to choose among well-planned, varied learning activities enhances the probability that they will learn what they need to know through play" (Morrison, 2015, p. 285). Educators carry the responsibility of providing activities and opportunities for young children to enhance their physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language development skills throughout their educational journey.
It is important to understand that there is not a guarantee that children will learn through play and learn absolutely everything they need to know in education without guidance. "Providing opportunities for children to choose among well-planned, varied learning activities enhances the probability that they will learn what they need to know through play" (Morrison, 2015, p. 285). Educators carry the responsibility of providing activities and opportunities for young children to enhance their physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language development skills throughout their educational journey.
Making Relationships
Making Relationships
Most importantly, educators have to find time during the school day to make relationships with each student in the classroom. "Being more intentional and aware about connecting with all students can help build the foundation for equitable classroom practices and collaborative problem-solving with each child" (Gutierrez, Buckley, & Transforming Education, 2019, p. 5). For play to fully impact young children, young children have to feel comfortable in their environment in order to make progress physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Most importantly, educators have to find time during the school day to make relationships with each student in the classroom. "Being more intentional and aware about connecting with all students can help build the foundation for equitable classroom practices and collaborative problem-solving with each child" (Gutierrez, Buckley, & Transforming Education, 2019, p. 5). For play to fully impact young children, young children have to feel comfortable in their environment in order to make progress physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Although there are increasingly demanding standards being taught to young children, educators need to understand that the Common Core State Standards are an endpoint, and not a curriculum (Mraz, Porcelli, & Tyler, 2016). Some educators have solely focused on the standards that had to be taught and did not incorporate play within the instruction. Many times educators can see standards being met while children are engaged in play and they will design instruction that will help children to meet the rest of the standards (Mraz et al., 2016).
Although there are increasingly demanding standards being taught to young children, educators need to understand that the Common Core State Standards are an endpoint, and not a curriculum (Mraz, Porcelli, & Tyler, 2016). Some educators have solely focused on the standards that had to be taught and did not incorporate play within the instruction. Many times educators can see standards being met while children are engaged in play and they will design instruction that will help children to meet the rest of the standards (Mraz et al., 2016).
It is important for educators to feel prepared to educate young children with developmentally appropriate practices. Below are activities that can be implemented into a preschool/kindergarten classroom that engages young children in the instruction, while also addressing the four domains of development.
It is important for educators to feel prepared to educate young children with developmentally appropriate practices. Below are activities that can be implemented into a preschool/kindergarten classroom that engages young children in the instruction, while also addressing the four domains of development.
Social Studies Activities
Social Studies Activities
Emphasize being a good friend with children and talk about how giving compliments is a nice way to make friends. Partner the children and allow them to give each other a compliment, then they can share with the whole class.
Play dress up during President's Day to talk about the presidents and why that day is so important. The children can learn interesting facts about presidents and they can play pretend as the presidents as well from the information they learned.
Learn about the American Flag and the importance of why we say the Pledge of Allegiance. Later on, have fun creating a cake with the children by mixing colors or playing with play-doh to create the flag.
Science Activities
Science Activities
Have the children create their own play-doh to explore and play with.
Explore the five senses with fruits, vegetables, animals, and insects. Have the children create hypotheses so they can determine what might happen in their explorations.
Explore how objects sink or float in the water table. The children can compare objects to see if they are heavier or lighter and can make hypotheses to see what objects will float or sink.
Language Arts Activities
Language Arts Activities
After a book has been read, have the children create their own puppets to demonstrate their understanding of the stories. Creating the puppets with glue, markers, crayons, and scissors help children's fine motor skills.
Finding letters in a water/sand table. This would help fine motor skills as well as social when interacting with others.
Create words or letters out of play-doh and then have the children write the letters on paper afterward.
Mathematics Activities
Mathematics Activities
Allow the children to play hopscotch to help them count their numbers. This also helps children's gross motor skills.
Provide children with blocks in centers where they can explore and cooperate with others while sorting colors, shapes, and sizes.
Play card games such as memory, war, or old maid for number recognition and time to play with others.
References
Battles, M. (2019). Let them play: The importance of play and 100 child development activities. Southlake, TX: Living Joy Daily.
Gutierrez, A. S., Buckley, K. H., & Transforming Education. (2019). Stories from the field: Building strong teacher-student relationships in the classroom. In Transforming Education. Transforming Education.
Mraz, K., Porcelli, A., & Tyler, C. (2016). Purposeful play: A teacher's guide to igniting deep & joyful learning across the day. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Morrison, G. S. (2015). Early childhood education today (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
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