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Hands-On Learning!
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Hands-On Learning!
More Than 1000 Activities for Young Children Using Everyday Objects



November 2012 | 152 pages | Corwin
Teachers of young children are always looking for fresh, hands-on activities to engage their students and build their knowledge of the world through firsthand experiences with objects. This innovative resource guides teachers in developing tactile lessons utilizing inexpensive, readily available objects to engage young children's senses and interest.

Ideal as a supplement to a primary curriculum as well as for learning centers, this volume includes more than 1,000 sample activities using materials such as cotton balls, paper, and wheels. The activities are organized into 18 themes and grouped into the areas of literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, physical development, and creativity. Reflected throughout the book is a unique approach that:

Presents a new and simple way to design themes and activities that guarantees hands-on learning experiences

Complements any curriculum

Offers suggestions on how to modify activities to respond to children's developmental levels

Includes an additional list of over 60 generic tactile activities that can be adapted for a variety of content areas

Hands-On Learning! is the ideal companion for early childhood educators seeking to provide positive experiential learning opportunities for young students.

 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction
 
Part I. How to Create Hands-On Learning Opportunities
 
1. A New Way to Design Themes and Activities for Young Children
 
2. Suggestions for Developing Hands-On Activities: Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Development, and Creativity
 
3. Boxes as a Theme: Highlighting Some of the Specific Learning That Can Occur With Each Activity
 
Part II. Themes and Activities for Hands-On Learning
4. Balls

 
5. Cotton Balls

 
6. Hats

 
7. Index Cards

 
8. Mail

 
9. Mittens and Gloves

 
10. Paint and Paintings

 
11. Paper

 
12. Ribbons

 
13. Shoes and Footwear

 
14. Spoons

 
15. Toilet Paper and Other Cardboard Rolls

 
16. Water

 
17. Wheels

 
18. Wood

 
 
Appendix: A Letter to Families Explaining the Importance of Hands-On Learning

“The book is a wonderful brainstorm of activities. The author provides a list and explanation for each activity, making this an extremely useful and user-friendly resource for early childhood professionals."

Michelle Barnea, Early Childhood Consultant

“This text will quickly become a favorite for busy teachers wanting to provide engaging learning activities in their classrooms.”

Roxie Ahlbrecht, Second-Grade Teacher
Robert Frost Elementary School, Sioux Falls, SD

“The wealth of suggestions and materials that are readily available to teachers make this a worthwhile resource for educators, who can pick and choose the activities to incorporate into their curriculum.”

Susan Schipper, First-Grade Teacher
Charles Street School, Palmyra, NJ

“There cannot be enough resources for teachers who desire to encourage play-based, hands-on learning—and they all should! Gwen Kaltman’s book is practical and puts common household materials in the service of learning.”

James Clay, Director
School for Friends, Washington, DC

"An excellent supplement to any curriculum and to an early childhood teacher’s bag of tricks. The activities are bound to engage young children’s curiosity as they explore everyday objects with a new perspective.”

Judy Zimmerman, Executive Director
Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies, Nova Southeastern University

For instructors

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