Blocks help children develop concepts of number, size, shape, space, and weight. They also encourage imagination, language, social skills, self-confidence, and motor skills. All you have to do is watch children playing in the block center and you will observe their pleasure and personal satisfaction. Talk about STEM and SEL all rolled into one center!!
The block center should be on a carpeted area with shelves to keep down the noise and contain the materials. Here are some materials you can rotate to encourage children’s creativity.
Materials:
Unit blocks – various shapes and sizes
Cardboard boxes
Alphabet blocks
Wooden dollhouse and furniture
Wooden barn and animals
Plastic dinosaurs and zoo animals
Toy train set, boats, airplanes
Small dolls or action figures
Plastic bins or boxes for accessories
Wooden cars and trucks
Toy street signs
Bristle blocks
Construction hats
Carpenter’s apron
Engineer Planning book
Maps
Paper, pencils
Pattern blocks
*Add construction hats or carpenter’s aprons for children to wear as they build.
Here are three simple rules children need to follow in the block center:
1. Build only as tall as you are.
2. Only knock down what you build.
3. Put the blocks away when you are finished.
JUST FOR FUN!
Name Blocks
Tape children's pictures to unit blocks and use for building, graphing. and other activities.
TP People
Glue full body photos to TP rolls and use in the block center or with a puppet theater.
Tape children's pictures to unit blocks and use for building, graphing. and other activities.
TP People
Glue full body photos to TP rolls and use in the block center or with a puppet theater.
