Early Learning PreK-2 by Marissa Ching

Small World

marissa_ching — 2023-08-21 16:06:11 UTC

Leaving a table out for small world provides opportunity for it to be connected to all parts of the day - math, science, literacy, etc. Baskets and tubs for storage creates easy access to switch out materials.

Small World

marissa_ching — 2023-08-21 19:24:38 UTC

Using different levels and structures for small world can elevate the play

Materials Library

marissa_ching — 2023-08-21 19:56:50 UTC

Great way to store materials for students to use independently - alongside expectations on how to use, gather, clean up, etc.

Small World

marissa_ching — 2023-09-06 18:39:18 UTC

Keeping a loose parts or building library close by your small world will help elevate student play and allow for easy access/clean up.

Small World

marissa_ching — 2023-09-06 18:45:01 UTC

Small world with built in materials library underneath

Materials Library

marissa_ching — 2023-09-06 18:47:30 UTC

Cardboard baskets from Michaels in a repurposed mailbox

Materials Library

marissa_ching — 2023-09-06 18:57:30 UTC

Repurposing these drawers allow for easy access and the ability to even take them out and bring them to a table if a student wishes

Storage Organization

marissa_ching — 2023-09-06 19:09:10 UTC

This organizational system helps students return materials to their home in a visual way. Students match the letter/number on the box to the corresponding letter/number on the shelf - the shelf has the same letter/number underneath so students know where to place it.

Flexible Seating

marissa_ching — 2023-09-06 22:18:45 UTC

Calming Corner

marissa_ching — 2023-09-07 15:44:51 UTC

Library

marissa_ching — 2023-09-07 15:45:28 UTC

Dramatic Play

marissa_ching — 2023-09-07 17:44:58 UTC

Writing Center

marissa_ching — 2023-09-07 17:47:27 UTC

Maker Space

marissa_ching — 2023-09-07 17:49:37 UTC

Dual Purpose

marissa_ching — 2023-09-08 17:02:09 UTC

Shelves turn into tables for students to work at that also serve as accessible storage and organization.

Flexible Seating

marissa_ching — 2023-09-08 17:05:05 UTC

Maker Space

marissa_ching — 2023-09-08 17:05:26 UTC

Clear is kind storage

marissa_ching — 2023-09-08 17:07:03 UTC

How can we care for our tools?

marissa_ching — 2023-09-27 18:26:42 UTC

Invitations for Learning (Supporting Kinder)

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 16:58:12 UTC

Invitations for Learning (Deb Curtis)

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 16:59:03 UTC

Number Stamping

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 19:08:14 UTC

Build a City

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 20:12:37 UTC

Extensions: What else can you build? Which buildings have the most blocks? What other materials can be used with the same questions?
Pro tip: Change the materials but keep the same activity!

Matching Letters, Sounds and Images

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 21:06:46 UTC

Extensions: Wooden letters can also be letters written on stones

1:1 + Counting Invitation

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 21:47:18 UTC

If you make different sized "webs" beforehand, then students from all levels can engage.

Quantities Invitation

marissa_ching — 2023-10-16 21:52:11 UTC

Different ways to show numbers.

Extension: Numbers can be written on anything and cubes could be gems, legos, etc.

Letter Recognition Invitation

marissa_ching — 2023-10-17 18:02:24 UTC

Students pick a letter, then they find it on the sheet and use a dot pen to identify.

Extensions: Any kinds of art materials can be used for the dot pens. The worksheet can also be in a page protector. Instead of letter cutouts, they can also be objects that students must match the beginning sound to.
Pro tip: As students begin to learn letters, this activity can evolve into sight words or syllables.

Invitation Storage

marissa_ching — 2023-10-17 18:07:42 UTC

Stackable + accessible for students to bring out and clean up!

Playful Reading

marissa_ching — 2023-10-17 23:21:08 UTC

In Playful Reading, students can choose which invitation they would like to explore. Invitations should be a mixture of reading AND writing since they are so connected. Try to think of invitations that offer a range of ability - from letter sounds to sight words.

PRO TIP: Pull some groups during this time. I would pull strategy groups, leveled groups, etc. and work on skills in small groups while the other students are engaged in invitations.

Playful Reading

marissa_ching — 2023-10-17 23:33:23 UTC

In a workshop model, Elizabeth would do a mini lesson and then go into Playful Reading where students would have a choice of independent practice while engaged in an activity. There was a reflection at the end where students were able to share their work with the class, like an author's chair.

Her choices included multiple reading options, loose parts storytelling and writing, story writing, epic! or an entire bookroom related to current content. During this time, Elizabeth would work with small groups.

Loose Parts Shapes

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:40:43 UTC

Creating shapes with loose parts

Shape Building

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:42:47 UTC

Creating shapes with popsicle sticks.

Extension: What other materials could students use to build?

Retelling Familiar Stories

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:45:50 UTC

Students can retell familiar stories with loose parts, sensory materials, small world trays, etc.

Extension: How can students add onto a familiar story? What would they change? Can this transfer into writing - would students want to write their own book?

Retelling Familiar Stories

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:47:53 UTC

Tools Investigation

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:51:13 UTC

What are the affordances of these science tools?

Extension: Have students share aloud how they used these tools. Document their strategies and their words on an anchor chart that can live in the science area.

Shapes and Loose Parts

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:53:41 UTC

Loose parts are used as cookie cutters! What a sustainable way for students to explore how to make shapes!

Number Recognition + Fine Motor

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 19:56:27 UTC

Pipe cleaners, beads and clean yogurt lids - brilliantly sustainable!!

Literacy w/ Loose Parts

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 20:37:33 UTC

Extension: Names could also be letters, numbers, sight words, syllables, etc! Whatever you're working on!

Math Patterns - Nuts and Bolts

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 20:52:49 UTC

For our builders and creators, patterns can be made with things that connect!

Extensions: legos, blocks, beads on necklace, etc.

What face can you make?

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 20:57:00 UTC

SEL invitations connected to books and nature!

What can you observe and draw?

marissa_ching — 2023-11-07 20:59:31 UTC

Extensions: fine tip pen, tweezers, flash lights, tools for observations and documentation

Quantities and Number Recognition

marissa_ching — 2024-01-10 19:01:06 UTC

Extensions: teen numbers and simple equations (addition, subtraction)

Matching Quantity + Number Recognition

marissa_ching — 2024-01-10 19:02:57 UTC

Extensions: subitizing cards can be used to match with numerals, students can make their own number cards to match

Word Building w/ Materials

marissa_ching — 2024-01-16 18:29:38 UTC

Cards or visuals are helpful for comprehension and decoding. Extensions could be pictures of students in the class, sight words, vocab cards that match your science/social science units.

Explore Workshop Observations (HoM)

marissa_ching — 2024-01-16 18:59:09 UTC

Different ways of capturing and recording Habits of Mind.

Habits of Mind Norms

marissa_ching — 2024-01-16 19:20:25 UTC

By incorporating the Habits of Mind into your daily routines and structures, students will have more practice using the language.

Personalized Posters

marissa_ching — 2024-01-16 19:30:16 UTC

Using real photos of students actually exhibiting the Habits of Mind are great visuals and reminders for expectations and behavior.

Extension: blow these up into anchor chart sized posters, creating your own class posters together with student input and pictures.

Math Recognition + Sorting

marissa_ching — 2024-03-04 18:27:59 UTC

Different ways to subitize! Notice the 10 Frames taped on to the table - you can easily switch out different materials for students to use!

Matching Number Quantities

marissa_ching — 2024-03-04 18:31:06 UTC

Extensions: materials can be switched out to reflect different class interests!

Math + Literacy

marissa_ching — 2024-03-04 18:56:21 UTC

Extensions: students are invited to tell ANY kind of story with these characters.

Word Building

marissa_ching — 2024-03-04 19:06:10 UTC

Word building in Dual Language!

Number Quantity + Recognition

marissa_ching — 2024-03-04 19:07:10 UTC

Ten Frames

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:26:28 UTC

Extensions: beans can be switched out for a range of different materials! Whatever your students are interested in!

Ten Frames

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:29:57 UTC

Ten frames and loose parts!

What do you notice? What do you wonder?

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:35:44 UTC

Students were given open invitations to explore materials, then debriefed together around what they noticed and wondered.

Paleontology Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:38:29 UTC

What do you notice? What do you wonder?

Paleontology Invitation Pt. 2

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:43:43 UTC

Including writing materials with invitations allow for students to record their thinking - which is also a great resource/artifact/talking point during your reflection time!

Chemist Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:50:15 UTC

Students could move from invitation to invitation so they were asked to clean up after themselves. Easy prep invitations allows for Kindergarteners to be more independent and supportive with set up.

Seismology Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:54:33 UTC

This invitation included shaking the table to see if your structure would withstand an earthquake. Writing materials included here allowed for students to record their thoughts and findings based on their experiments.

Zoologist Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 17:57:42 UTC

Science Explorations

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 18:03:33 UTC

Botanist - Zoologist - Paleontologist - Chemist - Geologist - Seismologist

Geologist Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-03-05 18:05:46 UTC

Number Stories

marissa_ching — 2024-03-12 18:26:24 UTC

Extensions: Offer paper and writing materials so students can capture their stories. Offering materials with different numbers on them allow for number recognition.

Number Stories

marissa_ching — 2024-03-12 18:28:05 UTC

I took this picture too late but this student used loose parts to tell their story and then drew a picture afterwards.

Pick a Number and Make It!

marissa_ching — 2024-03-12 18:30:37 UTC

Students are invited to pick a number (on the beans) and then create/build that number with different materials. Number lines are included as a tool!

Simple Machine Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-03-19 21:06:32 UTC

Question: How do you use this simple machine?

Materials: Screw driver, screws, wood plank with pre-drilled holes

Force and Motion + Clay

marissa_ching — 2024-03-19 21:11:59 UTC

Question: How can you make the clay move?

Materials: Clay, clay tools, wet rags, canvas for tables

Wheel + Axle Invitation

marissa_ching — 2024-04-04 18:51:06 UTC

How can you make something move with these materials?

Materials: straws, anything that can be wheels, paper, cotton balls, etc.

Number Stories

marissa_ching — 2024-04-04 18:54:14 UTC

Mathematicians tell stories.... what subtraction stories can you tell today?

Extension: Heather used the Fosnot bunk bed story as a launching point but now students find math stories everywhere! Students share their stories during reflection time.