Developmental Stages of Block Play
This classroom poster is a wonderful reference with information on the various stages children will progress through as they begin to play with blocks. It provides pictures and details of what to expect at each stage. This poster will help you to align your curriculum and expectations around the various stages that are happening in your classroom.
Challenge Cards – Blocks and Ramps
These visual cards each provide a different challenge that will deepen – connect – extend your children’s block and ramp play. Simply print, cut and use.
Intentional Planning Sheet Sample – Bridge Over a River
This is a sample of the RISE Intentional Planning sheet that was co-constructed by RISE teachers with the goal of challenging children to engineer a stable bridge that will span a predetermined “river” (made of blue felt). The Intentional Planning sheet provides guidance in planning an experience and considers key details to assure rich STE and HSC. Find a blank Intentional Planning sheet here.
Intentional Planning Sheet Sample – Knocking Down Object at End of Ramp
This is a sample of the RISE Intentional Planning sheet that was co-constructed by RISE teachers with the goal of challenging children to design a ramp that would create enough force for a marble to knock over a tower at the end.
Intentional Planning Sheet Sample – Make a Marble Roll Up a Ramp
This is a sample of the RISE Intentional Planning sheet that was co-constructed by RISE teachers with the goal of challenging children to determine a way to get a marble to roll up a ramp without pushing it.
Intentional Planning Sheet Sample – Wrecking Ball
This is a sample of the RISE Intentional Planning sheet that was co-constructed by RISE teachers with the goal of challenging children to explore variables such as the weight of a ball and length of string on a “wrecking ball” (using PVC piping, string, balls) to create enough force to knock down a wall made of blocks.
Ways to Deepen Children’s Ramp Experiences
A classroom posting that provides examples on how you can deepen children’s understanding of ramps within the concepts of stability, distance and speed.
My Home: Home to School Information Sheet
Activity sheets focus on gathering specific information from families that then can be used in a relatable way in your curriculum to build on children’s familiar knowledge. The My Home sheet gathers information on what children’s homes are built out of. This can then support exploring the physical properties of materials, the concept of stability and scale, proportion & quantity. Parents can complete them at home with their child or during drop off or pick up at school.
Block building takes the formation of familiar buildings in the neighborhood. Teachers investigated ramps at a nearby train station, and families sharing about their homes using to School Information Sheet.
Teachers and children often predicted how an object will move down a ramp, investigated stability and force with a wrecking ball model, and tested stability of a bridge made of unit blocks.