Tired of the stress of proving yourself as a play-based educator?
Honestly, trying to do play-based education inside of academic expectations is not easy. In fact, it can be downright difficult.
Because of the lack of time, resources, and the bazillion other things you have to manage, it can be easier to just pull out the worksheets and those traditional theme boxes and hope for the best.
Yet, deep down, you know this is not serving the children in your care.
Rote-based learning curriculum doesn’t see, hear and honor the children as co-travellers.
You know in your heart, rote memorization and worksheets are junk food but how do you show parents the children are learning? It is exhausting.
Let’s face it. It is hard to go against the traditional early childhood expectations and provide a play-based environment.
Maybe you’ve already heard about the power of child led learning…
But you’re not really sure how to integrate the academic “basics” parents expect.
You’ve got no idea where to start — and you’re overwhelmed enough as it is without trying to figure out how learning happens in play or how to harness play in learning.
You’ve tried play-based learning before, but felt like the children weren’t learning enough — so you’ve returned to theme-based learning, and you’re doing the best with what you’ve got.
It doesn’t matter how many awesome activities you find on Pinterest…
Because the magic of play-based learning is in integrating academic learning through the daily life we spend with the children…
So if you’ve tried play-based education before, but gave up because you got overwhelmed, didn’t know where to start, or just couldn’t find a way to integrate academics effortlessly …
You owe it to yourself to try just one more time.
Because once you’ve experienced a lesson plan that harnesses the children’s innate desire to learn …
You’ll never look back.
The secret sauce to my lesson plans include these key principles:
Young children need home-like environments.
It has only been in the last 50 years that children under the age of 5 have not been at home. Young children are learning and making meaning of daily life and being human. It is what they are wired to do.
Young children need repetition.
It is natural that children want to play with the same things day after day, over and over again. At home, this is just accepted as a normal part of play. But in the traditional classroom, educators often assign centers to prevent this from occurring.
Young children need location based experiences.
The most dynamic, lasting learning happens when young children are experiencing “the real thing.” Learning about plants - then we explore real plants and gardens. Being in real locations gives children the first hand experience of the topic.
Young children need novel experiences.
Brain science has shown novelty directly activates the limbic system, which is the light switch for learning. When children experience something novel in a familiar context, they can more easily make connections and store it in long term memory.
Introducing the First Wunderled Days Lesson Plans
The World Beneath My Feet
Lesson Pack 1:
Dirt, Rocks, and Sand
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$17 USD
Lesson Pack 2:
Seeds, Sprouts, and Plants
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$17 USD
Lesson Pack 3:
Worms, Bugs and Spiders
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$17 USD
Or Get the Bundle and Save
All 3 Lesson Packs
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