Playful Learning: Develop Your Child's Sense Of Joy And Wonder (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
This is a wonderful and creative resource for homeschooling students from preschool through 2nd grade. I found several new ideas for projects for science, reading, writing, art, math, social skills, and geography. What I really like is that each subject is broken into three stages, stage 1, 2, and 3. You use the different stages to gauge your child's learning progress; lessons, readings, and projects are given for each stage of learning. The last part of the book is printables, which go hand-in-hand with the lessons and projects throughout the book. The printables are in bright colors, such as the dissection of a flower and graphics of types of clouds. If you are using the book for a single child, you could use the preforated edges to remove the printables for single use. I think that they are so fantastic in color, that you would want to do that rather than try and copy the sheets. Even if you do choose to make copies, you don't have to enlarge these printables, as you do with many other homeschool handouts, so the graphics are not fuzzy and broken.My favorite part of the book is the chapter dedicated to making your own books. I cannot wait to make a bunch of twig books using nothing more than a twig, one large rubberband, several sheets of paper, and a hole punch. No staples, no glue, no tape, and voila! You have a great book perfect for little hands. The author describes other types of books that you can make at home, and uses the homemade books throughout the chapters. I'm excited to start with the graphic nature journals! Some of the other projects include making self-portraits, designing a replica of a room using building blocks, and creating collages Matisse-style. The wire leaf prints and dissecting flowers are other must-do projects. The great thing is that each project is well-thoughout so you understand how each activity relates to the "bigger picture" of learning. No such thing as busy work here! Loved all of Bruehl's "playful learning" ideas, and wish I could devote one room in our house to all these activities, as she suggests. This is not a homeschooling book, but just a bunch of ideas (ranging in all subjects) to supplement your child's school education. I'm happy to say my daughter does most, if not all, of these kinds of things at school - but these are great ways to keep their interests alive at home with YOU, which is so important! Love the sheets/printables in the back and her extra reading suggestions for each topic. After returning it to the library, it's definitely a book I'd want to buy and keep!
What do You think about Playful Learning: Develop Your Child's Sense Of Joy And Wonder (2011)?
Didn't really read this book. Was mostly about setting up play areas and some ideas about games.
—Black_pearls2301
This book has some great ideas. Checked it out from the library and now I want to own a copy.
—kalpana
Good ideas for younger kids thru grade 2. Good reproducibles in back...
—ashleylansdell
