jilosquared.blogg.se - Imagination playground big blue blocks

In this activity, I filmed the students using a slow motion camera and the look on their faces when we re-watched their success was priceless. If successful, students were challenged to come up with another design or increase the length or height of their track.

In a small group activity, students had to create a structure in which a ball could move along a track from a starting point to an ending point.

After projects were complete, groups gave the other groups a tour of their fort. Then they had to work together to come up with their fort design and construct. All of the pieces were in the middle of the gym and students had to run relay style to collect the pieces they needed to build their fort.

In a winter-themed large group activity, students were divided into two teams to create snow forts.

Students had to guide their blindfolded classmate around the maze of blocks in this team building activity.

I used the big blue blocks for a partner trust activity to help students work on communication and build relationships.

In a fitness and wellness themed activity, students worked in pairs to design and create "Imagination Playground Exercise Equipment." Their goal was to create something that would motivate their classmates to be active and want to be healthy.

After the race, students reflected on how they could improve their design. This project included examining pieces, drawing out a design, and constructing before testing out their project.

I had students design and build "Imagination Playground Go Karts" that they got to race.

I witnessed them experience firsthand that creativity and innovation are a process of successes and failures and saw them make meaningful connections throughout the unit.

I could not get over the originality and inventiveness in the students' creations.

I wanted them to be open and responsive to new perspectives, incorporate group input, and feedback into their projects.

A large focus was for students to be able to develop, implement, and communicate their ideas. I wanted to provide opportunities to intertwine social emotional learning as a way to enhance positive peer relationships.Physically, I saw these blocks as a great means for my students to improve their fine and gross motor skills, muscular strength and endurance, and hand-eye coordination.I wanted students to participate in innovative hands-on activities fostering skills such as creativity, communication, teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving, higher-level thinking, and collaboration.What I wanted to do was come up with ways that I could further use these blocks in physical education lessons. I looked online and saw videos showing the power of these blocks to encourage child-directed and open-ended learning. I saw implementing Imagination Playground as an opportunity to promote movement that coincided with cognitive and social development.Not only did implementing Imagination Playground in my lessons allow students to think creatively and work collaboratively, but it fostered relationships and memories.

Students got to be creative in what they constructed, but I also had the wonderful opportunity to be creative in finding ways to use these blocks to create innovative PE lessons! The blocks were an excellent means to enhance social and emotional learning, build a positive learning environment, and help teach the children valuable life skills. My students achieved so many incredible goals! They were able to use their creativity, work collaboratively, and develop multiple skills through play.Click here to see my Imagination Playground in PE Presentation 2019