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.

Loose Parts Resources

Discover what loose parts are and why you need them in your classroom. Download a FREE list of over 150 loose parts resources you can use to set up age appropriate investigation areas and learning invitations in your early years setting.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle27 August 2021loose parts, loose parts play, investigative play, hands-on learning, play based, developmental play, provocations, learning invitation Comments

Developmental Stages of Play - Piaget

Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist in the early 1900s. Read about how his theories of cognitive development reinforce the idea that children can learn through play in your educational setting.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle17 August 2021investigations, play based, playbased, developmental play, cognitive development, piaget, hands-on learning Comments

Benefits of Loose Parts Play

There are numerous benefits of loose parts play in the early childhood classroom. In this blog post you will discover what loose parts are and the curriculum learning intentions you can teach through loose parts play.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle1 August 2021loose parts, provocations, hands-on learning, investigative play, loose parts play, developmental play, play based, open ended, learning resourcesComment

43 Rhyming Activities for Kindergarten

Discover 43 hands-on rhyming activities to help you teach rhyming and word families to your kindergarten and preschool children. These educational games and hands-on activities are an effective and fun way to teach rhyming words. Perfect for your literacy lessons and centers.

Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle8 July 2021Daily 5, literacy, phonological awareness, phonics, playbased, play based, reading, writing, rhyme, spelling, hands-on learning Comments

72 Inspirational Learning Through Play Quotes

Looking for inspirational learning through play quotes? Want some beautiful motivating sayings to display in your classroom or throughout your planning documents? Download a set to use in your classroom today.

Investigations, Classroom EnvironmentJanelle McArdle7 June 2021quotes, environment as the third teacher, investigations, planning, developmental play, play based, investigative play, hands-on learning, classroom decor, learning through playComment

Teaching Science in Early Childhood

Find out how to effectively teach the early childhood science curriculum in just 40min a week. The children in my class reach curriculum benchmarks easily. In fact, they learn so much more than the mandated curriculum.

Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdle22 April 2021inquiry, investigations, planning, playbased, provocations, science, play based, early years, early childhood, teaching science, reggio, walker learning, integrated curriculum, investigative play, developmental playComment

5 Picture Books for Your Classroom Maker Space

There are many wonderful children’s books to inspire and provoke creativity in a classroom Maker Space. Discover five of our must-have picture books for your creative learning provocations.

Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle11 April 2021play based, makerspace, box construction, construction, investigations, picture books, playbased, readingComment

Easter Math Activities For Play Based Learning

Looking for engaging Easter math activities for your kindergarten or preschool classroom? These hands-on, play-based learning invitations will keep students focused and learning while exploring counting, sorting, estimation, measurement, and more. Plus, grab the Easter Maths Investigations Pack for an easy, print-and-go setup!

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle27 March 2021easter, investigations, maths, playbased, play based, provocations, hands-on, kindergarten, preschool, prep, grade 1Comment

Planning For the First Week of School in Kindergarten

Feeling overwhelmed planning for your first week of kindergarten? Discover my proven tips and download my real-life planning to help you start the Foundation Stage school year with confidence!

Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle22 January 2021planning, play based, back to school, kindergarten Comments

3 Steps to Setting Up a Learning Provocation

Follow these 3 easy steps to set up an engaging and educational learning provocation. Learn how to create intentional, engaging spaces that focus on the curriculum and children’s developmental needs.

Investigations, Classroom EnvironmentJanelle McArdle19 August 2020environment as the third teacher, investigations, playbased, play based, provocations Comments

How To Run A Tuning-in Session

The tuning-in session is an important part of the play-based classroom's daily morning routine. It is a 15 to 20 minute designated time used to focus on the current learning intentions, build relationships with the focus children, set photographer and reporter tasks and also model and scaffold desired learning outcomes.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle2 August 2020investigations, playbased, play based, provocations Comments

What is a Learning Provocation?

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle22 July 2020environment as the third teacher, inquiry, investigations, playbased, play based, planning, provocationsComment

How to Make Weather Gnomes

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle6 July 2020handmade, investigations, play based, playbased, provocations, science, small worldComment

Classroom Photographer Child

A classroom photographer child is an important role from the Walker Learning Approach. Discover how having a child as a photographer can enhance learning, engagement, and documentation.