Engaging Resources
to keep your students focused and learning.
Maria Montessori
Block play is already rich with learning but knowing how to extend it intentionally can be the tricky part.
These printable block play building prompts are designed to help you add purposeful play to your block area. Each prompt invites children to test ideas, solve problems, and think more deeply through construction, design, and experimentation.
This resource gives you a ready-made collection of 64 open-ended block play building prompts that support early maths, science, engineering, and higher-order thinking skills in the early years classroom.
You’ll be able to:
set up purposeful block and STEM play activities in minutes
encourage more complex building and problem-solving skills
gather authentic assessment evidence
Perfect for kindergarten and preschool teachers using play based learning.
64 printable block play building prompts as A4 posters (nature-inspired designs)
The same 64 prompts in 4-to-a-page cards for rings, clipboards, or small displays
8 general building prompts - also in two sizes
12 illustrated construction vocabulary cards
Teaching notes with play-based tips and ideas
A printable student planning sheet for drawing and labelling builds
Teacher planning & reflection template
Construction observation checklist
Document wallet label to help you keep everything organised
In the 64 Prompts you’ll get:
16 Engineering & Stability challenges (balance, strength, redesign)
16 for Measurement & Geometry thinking (height, width, shape, comparison)
16 Critical thinking prompts (testing, revising, problem-solving)
16 Creative thinking & Symbolic play challenges
Each prompt is intentionally open-ended, which means:
one card can be used many times across the entire year (and in different areas – not just the blocks area)
children can approach the same challenge in many different ways and with many different materials
naturally differentiated to allow learning at different levels - all depending on the child
You might see measuring, testing, balancing, redesigning after a structure collapses, collaboration, or symbolic play. This often happens all from the same prompt!
That flexibility is what turns play into such a powerful learning pedagogy.
These prompts work beautifully:
during investigation time in the block or construction area
as STEM challenges in small groups
as extension ideas for fast finishers
for observation, documentation, and evidence of learning
Simply print, display, and watch your block play go to the next level.
This resource supports:
The Age-Appropriate Pedagogies Framework
ACARA V9 (Measurement, Number, Space, Science Inquiry, Design & Technologies)
Play based learning and inquiry
Critical and creative thinking
Executive function, persistence, and collaboration
If you’re looking for block play building prompts that respect children’s ideas and support intentional curriculum-aligned teaching, this pack will be a valuable resource in your classroom.
Save money and grab this big bundle of illustrated learning intentions. Use them to explicitly teach your Kindergarten, Prep and Preschool students what the English, Math, Science and HASS Foundation Stage learning intentions are.
The pictures will act as a visual prompt and help your students remember and better understand their WALT goals.
THIS SET CONTAINS VERSION 8 ENGLISH OBJECTIVES & BANNERS:
56 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Language strand
47 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Literature strand
83 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Literacy strand
Content strand headings
WALT banner
English headings
AND THIS SET CONTAINS VERSION 9 MATH OBJECTIVES & BANNERS:
90 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Number and Algebra strand
71 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Measurement strand
7 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Statistics and Probability strand
Content strand headings
WALT banner
Math headings
THIS SET CONTAINS VERSIONS 8 & 9 SCIENCE OBJECTIVES & BANNERS:
20 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Living Things Unit
17 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Materials and their Properties Unit
10 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Weather Unit
12 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the How Things Move Unit
Content strand headings
WALT banner
Science Unit
AND THIS SET CONTAINS VERSION 8 HASS OBJECTIVES & BANNERS TOO:
11 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the History strand
11 visual WALT goals or Learning Intentions for the Geography strand
WALT banner
HASS Unit headings
These effective and thoughtfully aligned ACARA learning intentions will improve your student’s learning.
Research indicates that students who regularly discuss and are made aware of their learning intentions are more
focused and for longer periods of time.
more motivated and active in their learning.
able to take responsibility for their own learning.
You will receive a total of 435 illustrated learning intentions aligned to the ACARA Foundation Stage curriculum and when you use them in your classroom, you will be giving your children the tools they need to take more responsibility for their own learning and achieve greater learning independence.
Maths and Science have been updated to Version 9 of the ACARA Curriculum.
In preschool and kindergarten, written learning intentions are somewhat ineffective because your young children are just not confident readers yet. When you refer to the written learning intention on display, all your little ones see is a collection of letters.
For this reason, I like to use illustrated learning intentions in my early childhood settings. Learning intentions with a pictorial representation will help your students remember and understand their learning goals.
Save yourself some time and lots of effort with these already done for you age-appropriate learning intentions.
Build deeper thinking across your day with these printable higher order thinking prompts based on Bloom’s Taxonomy - perfect for Kindergarten, Prep, and Foundation teachers using play and inquiry-based learning.
Do your students give surface-level answers when you know they're capable of more? These Higher Order Thinking Prompts will help you ask the right kinds of questions – the ones that get them thinking, talking, and truly understanding.
This comprehensive toolkit makes it easy to bring Bloom’s Taxonomy to life in real-world classrooms - without hours of prep or stress for you! Whether you’re guiding a maths investigation, a STEM challenge, or a group reflection session, you’ll have the perfect question ready to go.
This resource helps you move beyond “what happened?” to “why do you think that happened?” and “how could we improve it next time?”
It saves you precious planning time while also helping your students develop:
Deeper understanding across literacy, maths, and science
Richer language for sharing and justifying their ideas
Confidence to think creatively and reflect independently
Stronger reasoning and problem-solving skills
You won’t find generic question posters here. These beautiful nature-themed prompts were thoughtfully written and classroom-tested during real play-based lessons, reflection times, and provocations.
Each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy is represented, from remembering and understanding to creating and evaluating. Use them flexibly - on display, in planning, or as part of inquiry-based learning.
120 Higher Order Thinking Posters (nature-themed, A4 size)
120 Printable Prompt Cards (four to a page)
Planning Template for intentional questioning
Teaching Notes with examples for Literacy, Maths & Science
Bloom’s Taxonomy At-a-Glance Poster
Suggested Prompts for Reflection Time
Observation Checklists for documenting student thinking
Document Wallet Label for organisation
A printable Master List of All the Question Stems
Perfect for:
Literacy, maths, and science blocks
Investigation areas and provocations
Group reflections and partner tasks
Inquiry learning, STEM, and makerspace challenges
Assessment and documentation during play
These prompts align with both the Australian Curriculum v9 and the Common Core, helping you confidently plan and assess higher order thinking skills.
Imagine being in the middle of a science provocation and hearing your students ask: “What would happen if we changed just one material?” That’s the power of intentional questioning - and it all starts with you.
With this set of higher order thinking prompts, you'll feel ready to guide meaningful learning through every subject, lesson, and play invitation.
There are over 70 resources waiting for you in the FREE Resource Library
Open ended questions for reading comprehension help young readers think deeply, infer, and explain ideas. Learn practical examples, tips, and free prompts.
Discover the teacher’s role in play-based learning. Learn how to observe, scaffold, co-play and use open-ended questions to deepen play and learning in the early years.
Struggling with behaviour, transitions or chaos during play? Learn why play-based learning isn’t working and how to fix it with simple, structured strategies.
Find the balance between play-based exploration and meeting curriculum goals in your early years classroom. Learn how to plan for play with confidence and clarity.
Discover how to create a conducive learning environment that sparks curiosity, collaboration, and deep play in early years classrooms.
Discover loose parts play ideas for early childhood classrooms including art, maths, literacy, science, sensory play, construction and outdoor play using open-ended materials.
Foster agency in early childhood education and discover how autonomy supports motivation and deeper engagement in the classroom.
See how play-based learning develops children’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and creative skills in meaningful, joyful ways.
Learn what the research says about play-based learning and why evidence shows it leads to stronger academic, social, physical, and cognitive development outcomes for children.
Discover real examples of play-based learning and symbolic play that build literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking through active, creative, scaffolded play.
Help your students slow down, reflect and build confidence with these printable affirmation hearts. Designed for mindful colouring, this resource supports positive self-talk, emotional awareness and self-confidence in a calm, age-appropriate way. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Kindness Week or everyday wellbeing centres. These affirmation hearts turn a simple colouring task into a meaningful SEL experience.
I created these after noticing how powerful “I am…” statements were in my own classroom. When children colour a heart that says “I am brave” or “I am kind,” they begin to connect those words to real experiences in their lives. It becomes more than colouring and becomes purposeful SEL learning.
Save Time With a Print-and-Go SEL Activity
These affirmation hearts give you a ready-to-use wellbeing activity that supports social and emotional learning without heaps of prep. Simply print, add some pencils or crayons, and place them in your calm corner, investigation area or Valentine’s craft table.
💡 As your students colour, invite gentle conversations about the affirmations. You’ll see your children begin to talk about their strengths, feelings and experiences. It’s such a simple way to build confidence and emotional vocabulary while keeping your students calm and focused.
What’s Included in These Affirmation Hearts
30 printable affirmation hearts to colour in two sizes for flexible classroom use
4 learning prompt posters to encourage reflection and discussion
Teacher observation recording sheet for noting confidence and self-talk
Assessment checklist to track SEL development and fine motor growth
Student recording sheet to connect drawing, writing and self-reflection
Document wallet label to keep everything organised and easy to store
Two spelling versions included: AU/UK and USA
It’s all designed to work together so you can set up a purposeful wellbeing activity in minutes.
Why Teachers Love Using Affirmation Hearts
Because they offer more than just a colouring page. These affirmation hearts will help your students practise positive self-talk, develop self-worth and build a stronger sense of identity. At the same time, your children are strengthening fine motor control, self-regulation and focus through mindful colouring.
The included recording and observation tools also make it easier to document social and emotional learning.
Ways to Use These Affirmation Hearts in Your Classroom
Wellbeing or calm-down areas
Valentine’s Day or Kindness Week activities and centres
Morning tabletop activities
Early finisher options that still feel purposeful
Wet weather activities
Simple homework that encourages positive conversations at home
This flexible resource can be used over and over throughout the year. Print out a set and have them ready whenever your class needs a calming, confidence-building activity.
If you want your classroom to become a calmer, more reflective space where your students can recognise their strengths and talk about their feelings, grab the full set of affirmation hearts, learning prompts and recording tools today!