Easter Writing Prompts

Grab yourself some fun Easter writing prompts and a heap of Easter writing activities and ideas in this blog post. You will be able to keep your students engaged and writing all the way up until the Easter break.

Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdle22 March 2022writing, easter, kindergarten, grade 1, first grade, literacy, investigations, early years, primary school, elementary, writing promptsComment

Loose Parts Invitation to Play - How to Set up an Inspiring Loose Parts Invitation to Play

Are you interested in setting up some engaging invitations to play using loose parts? In this blog post you will discover how to use open-ended loose parts in your learning invitations. Learn how to set up those inspiring loose parts provocations and be on your way to fostering engagement and higher order thinking skills in your classroom.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle14 March 2022loose parts play, loose parts, kindergarten, preschool, prep, provocations, provocations for learning, open ended, learning invitation, play based learning, investigations, inquiry skills, reggio inspiredComment

Science Provocations – Living Things

Are you teaching the early years biology strand and looking for some engaging and educational science provocations to help your students learn about Living Things? In this blog post there are 5 engaging living things provocations to inspire you. There are also tips and ideas to help you set up your very own purposeful early childhood science learning provocations.

Teaching Science in a Play Based Classroom

Teaching science in a play based classroom is one of the easiest things you will ever do as a classroom teacher. In this blog post you will discover how play based learning and science education go hand-in-hand. I’ll share heaps of photos and ideas you can use in your classroom to teach science through play and learning provocations.

The Teacher’s Role in Loose Parts Play

What is the teacher’s role in loose parts play? In this blog post you will discover which loose parts are best for your children and find out how the teacher plays a vital role in the success of loose parts play in the classroom.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle7 February 2022loose parts play, loose parts, play based learning, play based classroom, play based, playbased, inquiry, prep, preschool, kindergarten, early childhoodComment

How to Start with Play Based Learning

Interested in play based or inquiry learning but don’t know where to start? Discover how I do it and find out all the benefits of play based learning. You will also get some practical ideas and my play based learning hints and tips on how you can easily get started learning through play in your classroom today.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle12 January 2022play based learning, planning, playbased, developmental play, learning invitation, hands-on learning, learning resources, walker learning, provocations for learning, kindergarten, prep, preschool, back to school, starting school Comments

Christmas Classroom Ideas

Are you looking for some classroom ideas to help you celebrate Christmas over these last few weeks of school? I have collated 9 of the best hands-on Christmas classroom ideas for your kindergarten or preschool classroom.

Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle20 December 2021christmas, kindergarten, prep, preschool, hands-on learning, play based, play based learning, play based classroom Comment

Christmas Maths Activities for Kindergarten

Discover 7 Christmas math activities for kindergarten and preschool. Keep your children engaged and learning in all the excitement of your end of year celebrations. These hands-on math activities will have your students engaged, focused and learning right up to the holidays.

Loose Parts Christmas Ideas

Looking for some loose parts Christmas ideas to use in your classroom this year? In this blog post you will discover the benefits of loose parts play and ideas on how you can use loose parts to spark curiosity and learning in your classroom this Christmas.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle6 December 2021christmas, loose parts play, loose parts, kindergarten, preschool, play based learning, hands-on learning, christmas loose parts Comments

Christmas Sensory Play

Are you looking for some Christmas sensory play ideas to get you through to the holidays? As Christmas approaches the children get so excited and keeping them settled and on task can sometimes be difficult. Time for some sensory play. Sensory play can help your children to settle and stay on task. I am constantly amazed by the calming effects sensory activities can have on my students.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle27 November 2021Christmas, sensory, sensory play, christmas activities, kindergarten, preschool, investigations, investigative play, play based learning, provocations for learning, hands-on learning, early childhoodComment

Loose Parts Play

Find out what loose parts are and where the idea of loose parts play originated. Discover the benefits of loose parts play and get some easy and practical ideas for loose parts play in your classroom.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle22 November 2021loose parts play, loose parts, hands-on, hands-on learning, play based, play based classroom, play based learning, investigative play, inquiry, inquiry skills, integrated curriculum, kindergarten, preschool, provocations for learningComment

Stages of Block Play

Discover the 7 stages of block play and the influences these stages can have to the design of your learning environment. BONUS FREE Block Play Stages pdf to download and print.

What Does the 100 Languages of Children Mean?

In this blog post you will discover what the 100 languages of children means, where the idea started, why it is an important element of a child-centered education program and how you can use the 100 languages of children in your classroom.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle1 November 2021100 languages, reggio inspired, reggio, inquiry, investigations, investigative play, play based learning, developmental play, hands-on learning Comment

The Benefits of a Classroom Maker Space

Discover all the benefits of a classroom maker space in this blog post and download some free posters to educate your classroom visitors on why you have a Makerspace, Box Construction Area, Collage Table, Creation Station or whatever you choose to call it in your learning space.

Investigations, Classroom EnvironmentJanelle McArdle18 October 2021makerspace, maker space, box construction, collage table, creation station, hands-on learning, play based learning, artComment

Piaget and Play Based Learning

Piaget’s theories of cognitive development have influenced our modern play pedagogies. See how Piaget and play based learning go hand-in-hand and how his theories reinforce the idea that children learn through play. Discover some practical play-based learning ideas for your classroom.

Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle11 October 2021play based, play based learning, play based classroom, piaget, early childhood, early years, hands-on learning Comments

Reggio Math Provocations

Discover what Reggio math provocations are and how to plan and set up inviting Reggio inspired math provocations in your kindergarten or preschool classroom. You will have your children engaged with hands-on learning in no time.

Investigations, Classroom EnvironmentJanelle McArdle4 October 2021maths, reggio inspired, reggio, math provocations, reggio math, kindergarten, preschool, first grade, grade 1, hands-on learning, play based learning, playbased, loose parts Comment

Why Teach Science in Early Childhood

Do you feel Science is just one more thing to add on to your already crammed curriculum? Are you thinking “Why Teach Science in Early Childhood?” Find out why you need early childhood science education in your classroom and how you are probably already teaching it.

Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle27 September 2021early childhood, science, teaching science, early childhood science, inquiry, inquiry skills, early years science, kindergarten science, preschool science, first grade science, grade one science, grade 1 science, Australian curriculum, play based learningComment

Environment as the Third Teacher

Are you interested in transforming your learning environment into the third teacher? Read this blog post for tips and ideas on how you can get the third teacher working for you.

Blog - Life in a Play Based Classroom

I’m Janelle and I’m here to help you implement an engaging, play based curriculum

that STILL has your children meeting academic standards and benchmarks!