Friday Playday: Practicing through Play
“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning… They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.” – Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
a.k.a., Play builds on learning, which builds on play – it’s an forever evolving way to learn and grow.
So if you want a child to learn friendship skills, practice with dolls and transformers. If you want a child to practice conflict resolution or public speaking, play charades or puppets. If you want a child to practice math, pick up an educational card game. If you need to learn vocabulary words, use pictionary or crosswords.
We like to play. Playing makes thoughts and facts and ideas stick. Go play!
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This post is part of our Friday Playday series, where we are sharing ideas and activities related to our 5 “play with purpose” books. Check out the books, where you can find 750+ powerful and easy ways to help children and youth grow in character, service and leadership. We’d also love to come to your school or organization to lead a “play with purpose” workshop – find more details here.
Play with Purpose!
Susan Ragsdale & Ann Saylor (a.k.a. The Games Girls)
Educational Technology Spotlight: Starfall for Teaching Literacy Skills
I have enjoyed using www.Starfall.com to teach young children letters, phonics, and reading. The aminations are cute, so the children enjoy learning while playing. Check out some of their resources:
Friday Playday: Learning and Growing
“Whoever wants to understand much must play much”. – Gottfried Benn
a.k.a. You can learn a lot about yourself, about others, and about the world when you play.
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This post is part of our Friday Playday series, where we are sharing ideas and activities related to our 5 “play with purpose” books. Check out the books, where you can find 750+ powerful and easy ways to help children and youth grow in character, service and leadership. We’d also love to come to your school or organization to lead a “play with purpose” workshop – find more details here.
Play with Purpose!
Susan Ragsdale & Ann Saylor (a.k.a. The Games Girls)
FREE Service-Learning Curriculum Available
The YMCA Center for Asset Development is proud to announce that our new Seasons of Service: Engaging Youth in Service-Learning Throughout the Year curriculum is now available, and it has been nominated for a 2012 National Service Impact Award. (Click on the link to cast your vote for the curriculum before May 15 at 5pm!).
The Seasons of Service (SOS) curriculum: Engaging Youth in Service-Learning throughout the Year offers a 3-in-1 curriculum package to engage and equip youth as change agents in the community. With step-by-step guidance, youth-serving agencies and schools can easily incorporate this curriculum into their programs and put it into the hands of youth for them to lead service-learning experiences. Click here to download the FREE curriculum.
SOS includes an About Service-Learning and Assets chapter that covers all the basics of these best practices and offers tips, tools and ideas; a reflection journal, Looking Deeper: My Service Journey, for recording “a-ha” moments; and three distinct curriculums:
- Change Your World offers 12-sessions to engage youth in service-learning and intentionally build their leadership skills to solve social problems. It’s an experiential look at discovering individual strengths, exploring community needs, and planning community projects to help youth change their world.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: A Day On, Not A Day Off includes outlines for three half-day experiences that help youth engage in activism as they explore service, equity, leadership, and justice through advocacy.
- Service Sampler: Finding Your Place to Serve offers outlines for eleven 3-4 hour service-learning experiences across a broad exploration of community issues (ranging from animal care to promoting peace) that prompts youth to find “their” issue and passion.
Help Us Get the Word Out
We want to get the word out to as many people as possible about this resource so that ultimately, we can work with young people to change their world. Please take a minute to vote for the curriculum in the 2012 National Impact Awards, so we can build more awareness of this free curriculum!
Want more help? YMCA Center for Asset Development offers additional support for the curriculum:
- Train-the-trainer workshops to for youth and/or adult leaders
- Change Your Word Retreats – experience the curriculum in a one-day or weekend event
- Service Sampler experiences for youth in Nashville, TN.
Share the Love
If you like this resource, please share it with your networks via email, listserve, twitter, facebook… And feel free to drop a personal note to the authors at cad@TheAssetEdge.net.
“Every kid deserves to be seen, heard, valued, included and loved by many adults in her/his neighborhoods, families, schools, programs and communities”
Peter Benson
Educational Technology Spotlight: Google Sky
Google Sky lets users travel through outerspace to see stars, constellations and learn astronomy. Here are some of the items featured on their site:
Solar System
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Constellations
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Hubble Showcase
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Backyard Astronomy
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Chandra X-Ray Showcase
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GALEX Ultraviolet Showcase
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Spitzer Infrared Showcase
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Earth & Sky Podcasts
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Friday Playday: Play with Purpose
Deep meaning lies often in childish play. – Johann Friedrich von Schiller
a.k.a. There’s more to play than meets the eye!
Think about the last time you watched a child or an adult play. Whether they were playing independently or as a group, whether they were playing in a structured or unstructured environment, I bet you could learn something about them from a thoughtful observation.
Watching my son play with legos, I learn about the way his brain works, and how well he enjoys systems.
Watching myself play words with friends, I learn how competitive and analytical I am.
Watching a group of children play Group Juggle, I can see whether a child is outgoing or shy, comfortable or nervous, coordinated or not…
Engage your teammates or your kids in play, and see what you can learn by watching. See what you can teach through play by adding “Going Deeper” questions after an activity. Happy learning!
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This post is part of our Friday Playday series, where we are sharing ideas and activities related to our 5 “play with purpose” books. Check out the books, where you can find 750+ powerful and easy ways to help children and youth grow in character, service and leadership. We’d also love to come to your school or organization to lead a “play with purpose” workshop – find more details here.
Play with Purpose!
Susan Ragsdale & Ann Saylor (a.k.a. The Games Girls)
Book Giveaway: Zaira and the Dolphins
Zaira and the Dolphins, by Mar Pavon, is a delightful tale of a little girl with a tremendous imagination that helps provide her with her own fun and sense of joy. On a daily basis, Zaira visits the dolphins in the fountain on the square and converses with her special, imaginary friends. Questioned and mocked by other children, she doesn’t mind. She is content within her own world.
One day the fountain is empty! No dolphins! Laughed at by the others yet again, the tables turn when a real fairy appears . . .
Susan’s take: “This incredible tale will put a smile on your face as you root for Zaira and the fairy to keep dreams and beliefs alive. See how imagination and magic win the day for Zaira as she continues to embrace the fun of her own imagination and play in this whimsical story of wonder and awe.”
Ann’s take: “A lovely story of creativity, imagination and friendship that opens opportunities to talk through tough subjects with children. You could use this as a bridge to talk about loneliness, bullying, fears, friendship struggles…”
Recommend: This book is a must read for young and old alike, but the publisher specifically suggests the 5-7 age group. It reminds us of the gift of wonder and delight and the true gift that “imagination” is for us all. It would also be a good resource for a counselor looking for a light-hearted way to introduce any of the topics mentioned above.
Win a copy: Would you like to win a copy of this book? Leave a comment on this blog post or tweet about it with a link to @TheAssetEdge – or do both if you want to double your chances at winning! We’ll randomly select a winner on Thursday May 10, 2012, and send the winner a copy of the book.
Happy reading,
Susan and Ann
The Charlie Schultz Philosophy
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Then keep reading, and you’ll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series Winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1 List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials… The most money..or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most. (That’s the power of the SUPPORT asset!)
Thanks Cindy, for passing this along!
Educational Technology Spotlight: Number Jacks Games
NumberJacks has four creative math activities for young children – probably prek-2nd grade. See their website here – http://bbc.in/uimdX4 – or click on the specific games below.
Shape Japer Dominoes 
Number Jumping Generator 
Numberjacks Photo Match 
Spooky Spoon Sudoku 
