Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Playdough Mats and Activities for Young Learners

Playdough Mats and Activities for Young Learners
Playdough Mats and Cards: Hands-On Learning Through Creativity, Play, and Exploration The soft morning light hits the table, and a set of colorful playdough mats lies waiting. Alongside them are Playdough cards—little guides, prompts, and ideas tucke…

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Fables and Life Lessons: Exploring The Crow and the Pitcher Through Play

Fables and Life Lessons: Exploring The Crow and the Pitcher Through Play
Some stories stay with us long after we've closed the book. Fables have been shared for generations because they invite us to think, wonder, and gently reflect on the choices we make. Often told through animal characters, these simple stories ca…

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Speaking Activities to Use After Reading a Story

Speaking Activities to Use After Reading a Story
Speaking Activities to Use After Reading a Story One of the greatest benefits of using stories in the ESL classroom is the opportunity they create for meaningful communication. Too often, speaking activities feel disconnected from learners' experi…

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Pecos Bill Activities for Kids: Exploring Tall Tales Through Stories and Play

Pecos Bill Activities for Kids: Exploring Tall Tales Through Stories and Play
Tall Tales Come to Life: Exploring Pecos Bill Through Stories and Play Tall tales are stories filled with imagination, playful exaggeration, and unforgettable characters. They stretch reality in the most delightful ways, inviting children to wonder,…

Friday, May 4, 2018

May the Fourth: Inviting Story, Play, and Imagination on Star Wars Day

May the Fourth: Inviting Story, Play, and Imagination on Star Wars Day
Some days arrive already wrapped in story. May the 4th is one of them. Known around the world as Star Wars Day , this playful date — born from the phrase “May the Force be with you” — opens a door to a galaxy full of heroes, journeys, friendships, and …

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Why Stories Are Powerful Tools for Social-Emotional Learning

Why Stories Are Powerful Tools for Social-Emotional Learning
Why Stories Are Powerful Tools for Social-Emotional Learning When we think about picture books, we often think about literacy. We think about reading skills, vocabulary development, comprehension, and language learning. And while stories certainly supp…

Saturday, March 31, 2018

April Fool’s Day: A Playful Celebration of Humor, Creativity, and Curiosity

April Fool’s Day: A Playful Celebration of Humor, Creativity, and Curiosity
April Fool’s Day , celebrated on April 1st, is a day for laughter, imagination, and lighthearted surprises. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring a playful spirit into your learning space, encouraging children to notice the world around them, think c…

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Spring Invitations: Gentle Ways to Notice, Play, and Grow

Spring Invitations: Gentle Ways to Notice, Play, and Grow
Spring is a season of quiet transformation. Little by little, the world wakes up—buds appear, colors return, and life begins to stretch again. This natural rhythm makes spring a beautiful moment to slow down, observe, and invite children to notice w…

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Mardi Gras: Exploring Celebration, Culture, and Expression Through Story and Play

Mardi Gras: Exploring Celebration, Culture, and Expression Through Story and Play
Mardi Gras is full of color, sound, and movement — which is exactly why it works so well with young children when we keep the experience simple and intentional. Rather than treating it as a big event to explain, Mardi Gras can become a cultural momen…