(B) Materials to Enhance Children’s Play Blocks Dramatic Play Toys and Games Add: Add: Add: Shadow puppet theater – use a light behind a Inch cubes and pieces of yarn/string – to use for hanging white sheet. measurement, if desired; see Measuring Shadows small-group Variation: Wait until later in the week to add this (after children have read Louie) – or wait until week Alphabet cards; pieces of yarn or pipe cleaners (as 3 of this theme (to coincide with Shadow Puppets). follow-up to Letters small-group) Art Library/Writing Discovery/Science Add: Keep: Read-aloud books from this week & prior Keep: Flashlights, shadow box (with new objects to weeks of theme. put inside). Shiny and dull collage materials—e.g. foil, glitter, shiny paper or stickers, buttons; sandpaper, cardboard, Add: Add: construction paper, cloth, wood sticks Props related to The Very Lonely Firefly, to Small mirrors – Encourage children to explore Black paper with chalk or white crayons. encourage children to retell the story “bouncing” light, using the mirrors. Challenge them to try and reflect the light onto a specified object. “Observing Shadows” (if possible) – Place a plant, block tower, or other standing item in the window and check its shadow at different times of day. Note changes in shadow’s shape/size/position; you can mark with tape or use yarn to measure. Sand and Water Music and Movement Computers Keep: Bubbles Add: Add: Spotlight (if available) – encourage children to make their shadows dance. Whisks or hand egg beaters; various objects. Children can make bubbles (using whisks), then explore what they see reflected in the bubbles. Which objects can they see reflected? Cooking Outdoors
(B) Materials to Enhance Children’s Play Blocks Dramatic Play Toys and Games Add: Add: Shadow puppet theater – use a light behind a hanging white sheet. Variation: Wait until later in the week to add this (after children have read Louie) – or wait until week 3 of this theme (to coincide with Shadow Puppets). Add: Inch cubes and pieces of yarn/string – to use for measurement, if desired; see Measuring Shadows small-group Alphabet cards; pieces of yarn or pipe cleaners (as follow-up to Letters small-group) Art Library/Writing Discovery/Science Add: Shiny and dull collage materials—e.g. foil, glitter, shiny paper or stickers, buttons; sandpaper, cardboard, construction paper, cloth, wood sticks Black paper with chalk or white crayons. Keep: Read-aloud books from this week & prior weeks of theme. Add: Props related to The Very Lonely Firefly, to encourage children to retell the story Keep: Flashlights, shadow box (with new objects to put inside). Add: Small mirrors – Encourage children to explore “bouncing” light, using the mirrors. Challenge them to try and reflect the light onto a specified object. “Observing Shadows” (if possible) – Place a plant, block tower, or other standing item in the window and check its shadow at different times of day. Note changes in shadow’s shape/size/position; you can mark with tape or use yarn to measure. Sand and Water Music and Movement Computers Keep: Bubbles Add: Whisks or hand egg beaters; various objects. Children can make bubbles (using whisks), then explore what they see reflected in the bubbles. Which objects can they see reflected? Add: Spotlight (if available) – encourage children to make their shadows dance. Outdoors Cooking