Building from a different perspective

We have had the foam blocks a while now and every time I get them out the children enjoy playing with them - but just something wasn't 'quite right'?  I decided to put the blocks in one of our sensory trays on the table instead of tipped out loose on the floor.  It made a HUGE difference to the way the children played.  The blocks were all contained in one place, which concentrated the children's focus on building with them rather than throwing and kicking them about the room. The children chatted amongst themselves as they built, and they shared ideas as to what to build - towers, camels(!), rockets and of course - a fire engine!

3d Snowflake

Look at these fabulous 3d snowflakes that H made after school the other day....

A cardboard box can be so many things!

During a 2 hour period, Albie and J played with a cardboard box and had an amazing amount of fun.  Albie directed the play, instructing J as to what the box now was - during their play the box was...
a fire engine (of course!)
a surf board
a car
a ballet dancing mat
a sofa
a kennel
a fire station
and finally, a fire engine again!


Unfortunately we now need a new box - luckily I have one lurking in the garage somewhere ready for next week!

Foam Blocks

Another of our new resources - foam blocks that look like wood!  Genius, as when M decides to throw one half way across the room, it won't actually hurt anyone or do any damage!


J and M were keen to investigate them - I had to remind M a few times not to chew the blocks (he would be able to chew chunks of them off, and as well as spoiling the blocks, this obviously poses a choking hazard!)

J asked me to build him a "tower" and a "bridge" and a "castle"!  What do you think?  J was very impressed!

Unfortunately the 'tower-bridge-castle' got knocked over, so I challenged J to re-build it!

This block caused the collapse of J's wonderful creation, so he had to start yet again!

I think J did a fantastic job!

Gears

Another one of my new resources bought for the older children - Gears!  I had to show the children what to do with the Gears, but they soon got the hang of it, although attaching the cogs was a little tricky for J, and M just enjoyed the tactile element of the cogs.  We looked at the wonderful colours and discussed how everything linked together, thus in turn making each cog turn around.