Time to Explore

I believe that children need time to explore and innovate with classroom resources and materials. Providing scheduled exploring and creating time gives students the chance to create something that didn’t exist before.

Time to play without a specific teacher directed outcome allows children to think outside of the box. It gives them time to problem solve and opportunities to collaborate with their peers. It also provides students with time to create and practice the skills needed to be the innovators of the future.

Open-ended resources are perfect for exploration as they do not have an assigned purpose. A square magnet shape can become a window, a door, a wall or a design element. Open-ended resources take on the unique role that is determined by the child at that point in time.

Benefits

When children are given time to play they are able to ask and answer their own questions such as What could I do with these materials? What else might I need? How can I change what I’ve created?

Time to Explore in the Classroom

I provide multiple open-ended resources for the children to utilize during the day and continue to be amazed at the many ways the children innovate and create and most importantly shine with pride in their accomplishments. Here are a few examples of time to explore from this past week.