variations. [Trainer note-you may wish to have groups write notes on flip chart paper.] [Give groups about 10 minutes to complete assignment.] Now let’s come back together. Can the hard/soft group report out? [As each group reports out, show a slide with picture of examples. Acknowledge reports and comment on picture before moving on to next group.] Slide 16: Picture of materials that are hard and soft [Comment on picture and introduce next group.] Can the open/closed group report out? Slide 17: Picture of materials that are open and closed [Comment on picture and introduce next group.] [Trainer Note: Additional talking points you may want to include: It’s important to have a good balance of both open and closed materials and activities. Open materials can encourage and support creativity while closed materials develop problem solving, persistence, and self-initiative. A big bucket of random, varied Legos is open; children can use their creativity and design anything they want. A packaged Lego set with a specific purpose, such as this Lego Scooby Doo set, is for a specific purpose, and only includes the bricks needed to make the items shown on the outside of the box. Not much else can be made with these blocks, allowing little imagination and the skill set required to build it is “following directions to get the desired end result”. Closed materials are designed by the maker with a specific learning objective in mind.] Can the simple/complex group report out? Slide 18: Picture of materials that are simple and complex [Comment on picture and introduce next group.] [Trainer Note: Additional talking points you may want to include: Including a variety of materials in the classroom can facilitate simple to more complex levels of play. Each has an important place in the lives of children. By intentionally adding materials and props to centers, we encourage complexity in children’s play. There is a balance, however, between having plenty of materials and having too many materials, which can overwhelm young children and lead to less organized play.] Can the high mobility/low mobility report out? Slide 19: Picture of areas that are high and low mobility
variations. [Trainer note-you may wish to have groups write notes on flip chart paper.] [Give groups about 10 minutes to complete assignment.] Now let’s come back together. Can the hard/soft group report out? [As each group reports out, show a slide with picture of examples. Acknowledge reports and comment on picture before moving on to next group.] Slide 16: Picture of materials that are hard and soft [Comment on picture and introduce next group.] Can the open/closed group report out? Slide 17: Picture of materials that are open and closed [Comment on picture and introduce next group.] [Trainer Note: Additional talking points you may want to include: It’s important to have a good balance of both open and closed materials and activities. Open materials can encourage and support creativity while closed materials develop problem solving, persistence, and self-initiative. A big bucket of random, varied Legos is open; children can use their creativity and design anything they want. A packaged Lego set with a specific purpose, such as this Lego Scooby Doo set, is for a specific purpose, and only includes the bricks needed to make the items shown on the outside of the box. Not much else can be made with these blocks, allowing little imagination and the skill set required to build it is “following directions to get the desired end result”. Closed materials are designed by the maker with a specific learning objective in mind.] Can the simple/complex group report out? Slide 18: Picture of materials that are simple and complex [Comment on picture and introduce next group.] [Trainer Note: Additional talking points you may want to include: Including a variety of materials in the classroom can facilitate simple to more complex levels of play. Each has an important place in the lives of children. By intentionally adding materials and props to centers, we encourage complexity in children’s play. There is a balance, however, between having plenty of materials and having too many materials, which can overwhelm young children and lead to less organized play.] Can the high mobility/low mobility report out? Slide 19: Picture of areas that are high and low mobility