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ACTIVITY GAME TO STIMULATE CHILDREN'S IMAGINATIONS Here is an easy game to set up using giant cardboard blocks and fabric for a child playing by himself or in a group. And, not only will it stimulate your child's imagination, it will improve the functioning of the large muscle groups of his body.
While setting up this game your child will also learn art skills as well as develop balance and body-in-space awareness. This is a beginning level game for young children.
Materials Needed -
1. 4’ x 6’ (1 m x 2 m) gauze-like fabric (or any lightweight fabric)
2. Brick-pattern cardboard blocks or hollow wooden blocks.
After your child has put up a structure with the giant blocks, encourage him to drape the fabric around, over, or across it. Ask him to think about what it looks like.
There are a number of things he can make using the gauze. For example, he might build a boat shape and wave the fabric to simulate waves on the water or make a jet and wave the fabric behind to simulate the jet stream. He could make a float and use the fabric as the skirt. Then, he could stand on the float and wave at the spectators as he passes in the parade procession. If he is working with hollow wooden blocks, he can weave the fabric between the blocks. (ImagiBricks can be stood on with out being crushed.)
Encourage your child to develop a storyline to go along with their structure. With older children, ask them to stage a play using the fabric to make different scenes.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ASSESSMENT Use a tape recorder to capture the child’s discussion of his structure, such as its name, function, and what it looks like to him. What does the fabric do? Would he like to make a shirt out of it? On the tape recording, remark about the child’s ability to keep the structure stable and to keep himself balanced as he overlays and weaves with the fabric. Take a photograph of the child as he works. Take notes of the creative endeavors the child attempts.
This craft idea was found in a book entitled Block Play - The Complete Guide, written by< a href="http://www.gryphonhouse.com/authors.cfm?code=MACS" mce_href="http://www.gryphonhouse.com/authors.cfm?code=MACS"target="_blank"> Sharon MacDonald.
WHERE CAN I PURCHASE SOME OF THESE GIANT CARDBOARD BLOCKS?ALL I CAN IMAGINE sells blocks in sets of 16, 24, and 40 pieces and you can read about them on our Cardboard Building Blocks page on our website.
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