Free Halloween Writing Prompts for Kindergarten

Get your students excited about writing this Halloween with my Free Halloween Writing Prompts for Kindergarten and grade one. Quick, easy prep and educational too!

Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdle13 October 2023kindergarten writing, halloween, writing prompts, grade one, first grade, prep, foundation stageComment

The Rotation Schema

Are your students spinning, twirling, and turning objects or even themselves? They are exploring the rotation schema. This blog post explores the rotation play schema in detail and gives you 46 engaging activities you can use to support the rotation play schema in your classroom.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle23 February 2023play schema, play based learning, schemas, rotation schema, schema play, early childhood, early years, child development, developmental play, hands-on learning, kindergarten, prepComment

The Orientation Schema

In this blog post, you will learn all about the orientation schema and why it needs to be supported in your classroom. You’ll also discover several hands-on playful activities that will help you to support this interesting play schema.

InvestigationsJanelle McArdle16 November 2022play schema, orientation schema, kindergarten, prep, preschool, first grade, grade 1, early years, early childhood, child development, play based learning, play based classroom, play based Comment

How to Write Learning Intentions for Kindergarten and Preschool

Are you wondering how to write effective and age-appropriate learning intentions for your preschool or kindergarten classroom? In this blog post you will discover some practical strategies to help you write curriculum aligned learning intentions your kindergarten and preschool children can relate to and use.

Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdle16 May 2022learning intentions, kindergarten, preschool, prep, foundation stage, play based learning, planning, teaching, integrated curriculum, investigations, early childhood, early years, curriculum planning, Australian curriculumComment

Do You Need Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in an Early Years Classroom?

Do you really need to display your learning intentions in a kindergarten or preschool classroom? In this blog post you will discover exactly what learning intentions are and learn some practical teacher tips and ideas for you to have success using or displaying classroom learning intentions in the early years learning environment.

Explicit Teaching, Classroom Environment, InvestigationsJanelle McArdle4 April 2022learning intentions, kindergarten, preschool, prep, WALT goals, foundation stage, ACARA, Australian curriculum, learning objectives, curriculum planning, early years, early childhoodComment

Reggio Emilia Provocations

Are you interested in how Reggio Emilia provocations could enhance the teaching and learning in your play-based classroom? Many play-based teachers are aware of the highly regarded early childhood programs from Reggio Emilia in Italy. Discover how you can design learning provocations influenced and inspired by those in Reggio classrooms.

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

Classroom Mindful Monday

Mindful Monday is a great way to start the school week. If you are looking for a way to bring some mindfulness into your classroom, you are going to love this Mindful Monday activity.

Social and EmotionalJanelle McArdle7 March 2022social and emotional, mindfulness, social skills, mindful classroom, mindful kids, kindergarten, prep, preschool, early childhood, classroom, grade 1, grade one, first gradeComment

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

5 Engaging Read Alouds for the First Day of School

If you are looking for some engaging read alouds for the first day of school, this blog post has 5 wonderful picture books you can read aloud on the first day of kindergarten or preschool. I am sure you will want to add them to your classroom library!

Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle31 January 2022back to school, reading, read alouds, picture books, kindergarten, preschool, prep, early childhood, literacyComment

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.

Easter Math Ideas For Play Based Learning

Easter math activities to keep your kids on task and learning right up until the school Easter break. These investigation area ideas and engaging Easter activities are easy to prep and easy to set up.

They will have your kindergarten students developing and consolidating their early years math skills through engaging hands-on Easter activities.

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

The 10 Essential Areas of A Play Based Classroom

Ready to transform your classroom for play-based learning? This detailed blog post outlines the 10 essential areas you need to create engaging and educational spaces for your students to learn through play.

Investigations, Classroom EnvironmentJanelle25 August 2018environment as the third teacher, investigations, play based, provocations, kindergarten, early childhood, preschool, prep, play based learning Comments

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!