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Loose parts are the best learning materials your children can be using at home.. our classrooms are filled with them! These materials are open ended which means they can be used in so many different ways depending on the child and activity. They allow children to express and represent their thinking as they play. You can find loose parts around your home, but the best place to find them is outdoors! Nature is full of loose parts like pinecones, sticks, rock and pebbles, acorns, leaves, etc. Start looking around home, the backyard, and fields and forests around where you live to start creating your own collection of loose parts to use and play with at home. Use the pictures and ideas below to help guide you in your collection and exploration of loose parts!
Bottle caps, lids, corks, and other things that may usually ended up in the recycling or trash can be used as loose parts. Don't forget to give them a rinse first!
Bottle caps, lids, corks, and other things that may usually ended up in the recycling or trash can be used as loose parts. Don't forget to give them a rinse first!
Take a walk through a forest or trail to find some pinecones. Pinecones can be sorted or ordered based on size, and grouped together to be counted. They're great for making nature art!
Take a walk through a forest or trail to find some pinecones. Pinecones can be sorted or ordered based on size, and grouped together to be counted. They're great for making nature art!
The possibilities are endless when it comes to nature. Look for things like bark, pine needles and branches, leaves, curly vines, and rocks of all colours. When you begin to take a look, you'll see patterns, shape, size, quantity, and beauty in the natural world around you!
The possibilities are endless when it comes to nature. Look for things like bark, pine needles and branches, leaves, curly vines, and rocks of all colours. When you begin to take a look, you'll see patterns, shape, size, quantity, and beauty in the natural world around you!
Sticks
Sticks
Sticks provide endless possibilities for play and learning! Collect a group of sticks and try ordering them from shortest to longest, measure them, make letters and shapes with them, or use your imagination to pretend it is something else!
Need more ideas? Click here to see 20 Ways to Play with Sticks!
Dominoes, letter tiles, and other game pieces can be used in a variety of ways in play and learning to encourage literacy and mathematics thinking.
Dominoes, letter tiles, and other game pieces can be used in a variety of ways in play and learning to encourage literacy and mathematics thinking.
Rocks, pebbles, acorns, nuts, and seeds can all be found outside if you know where to look! These are great for sorting, counting, and patterning!
Rocks, pebbles, acorns, nuts, and seeds can all be found outside if you know where to look! These are great for sorting, counting, and patterning!
Mason jar lids are another loose part that can be found around home. Trace them for art, fill them with small loose parts like beads or buttons, or create something using them.
Mason jar lids are another loose part that can be found around home. Trace them for art, fill them with small loose parts like beads or buttons, or create something using them.
Bolts, nuts, washers, and other loose parts may be hiding in the tool box! How many nuts fit on a bolt? Have any magnets at home? These are the perfect match!
Bolts, nuts, washers, and other loose parts may be hiding in the tool box! How many nuts fit on a bolt? Have any magnets at home? These are the perfect match!
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