1. the amazing brain & learning through play
Part 2
the amazing brain & learning through play

2. The Neurons that shaped civilization DR. Ramachandran
The Neurons that shaped civilization DR. Ramachandran

3. Children at play
“Let the wild rumpus begin”

4. “DaP” always takes into account:
Strengths, interests, needs of the individual child
Knowledge of child development for the age range
Knowledge of social and cultural context of a child’s life

5. Characteristics of Play
Voluntary and intrinsically motivated
Symbolic, meaningful, and transformational
Actively involves players
Pleasurable
Rule bound – implicit or explicit

6. Play to NON-Play Continuum
Child-initiated Play
Facilitative Play
Directed Play
Work disguised as Play
Work (nonplay)

7. Types of play Different types of play have different benefits
Functional play
Constructive play
Symbolic play
Games with rules
Extending play
If you pretend, children will begin to pretend too
Begins as functional becomes more symbolic
Unimaginative play = immature play
Games with rules can be symbolic

8. Mirror neurons and play
What is the connection between mirror neurons and play?
What do children pay attention to?
Role of emotions…
Development of feeling/thoughts
Mirror neurons and play

9. Play and Self-Regulation
Rapid growth in pre-frontal cortex where self-regulation occurs
Self-regulation predicts academic performance in 1st grade more than cognitive performance
A child from at risk family who has self-regulation does better than even middle class child who doesn’t possess these skills
No self-regulation…you don’t know if you know something unless the teacher says you do

10. Self-Regulation
Marshmallow Experiment
Self-regulation involves:
Inhibitory and effortful self-control
Working memory
Cognitive flexibility

11. self-regulation Changes the brain
Being regulated by another person (to internalize standards). Teacher regulation is not the same as self-regulation and this is apparent when children misbehave out of the view of the teacher.
Regulated other people (shows the child is thinking about the rules/standards and applying them). This is often seen in tattling.
Self-regulating. This occurs when children voluntarily apply rules to self-not mere obedience.

12. INQUIRY INTO ACTION

13. INQUIRY: LISTENING & SEEING
Children’s Interests, Questions, Problems and Theories
PLAY BAGS
Discover six very different aspects of nature. Take a reasonable sample using the tools given you. LOOK CAREFULLY for interesting textures, colors, shapes in the natural world. Place them in the zip lock bags and bring to class next Tuesday.

15. Reggio Emilia Approach
Theory into Practice and Practice Driving Theory
Reggio Emilia Approach

16. Historical background
Following WWII
Founder Loris Malaguzzi
Child rich in potential – Citizen with rights
Hundred Languages of Children
Inherent genius of each child
Process of learning – demonstration of learning
Languages – symbols systems to promote understanding
Make learning visible
Not a curriculum
Not a model
The place theory and practice touch like the magic moment when night becomes day

17. Principles & Values of Reggio Emilia Approach
The image of the child
Children’s relationships and interactions
The role of the parent
The role of space

18. Atilier - Art Studio

19. Exciting Environments
Interactive Areas
Construction - big and small
Dramatic play and movement
Music exploration
Nature explorations
Book area
Mini-atelier: painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, composition
Message
Center
Design Elements
Color/ Light/ Transperancy/ Reflection/ Mirrors
Texture/ Nature/ Shapes/ Lines
Continuity between inside and out
Complexity of ideas - Layers/ Different Perspectives
Organization and freedom
Variety of work spaces-heights, levels
Focusd - Nothing by chance
Use of cloth/mobiles to soften

20. Color & Light

21. Construction Areas

22. Principles & Values Teachers and children as partners in learning
Curriculum as a process of inviting and sustaining learning
The many languages of children

23. City Project Game Board of the City Drawing Explorations
Constructing The City of Reggio Emilia
Projecting a transperancy of the city on the construction site

24. Exploring Composition
Composing Nature Collages on Nature Pictures
Steps in a composition
Collage with White Things
Color compositions with watercolors with inspiration from Kandinsky

25. Art Explorations
Paper making center
Moving from 2D to 3D

26. Color Explorations

27. Principles and Values The power of documentation
Documentation is listening - listening changes you - courage of doubt
Narrates a learning story
Gives life and value to the learning experience
Reinterpret and re-elaborate on the process
Occurs on many levels
Day-to-day traces: diaries, work, dialogue
Display panels as a memory and history of learning
Valuing process
Uncovers personal meaning, understanding, and learning
Emerge from invisibility
Creates culture

28. The Brain

29. Documentation