Integrating Learning into Play

I am a big proponent of learning through play.  However I realize that for many children there comes a time when learning becomes learning and play is play.  The two are separate.  For us right now, our learning time is portrayed as such so the kids get a sense of what it will be like in kindergarten.  However, I've taught them well because what they are learning is creeping into their free play.  I love it!

With the beginning of letter instruction there is a definite fascination with letters, the shapes and sounds that they make.  Today, the kids asked to get out the magnet building sets and instead of towers, the first thing they built were letters.  They were so proud and excited to show me and their friends the different letters that they could make.  Of couse there was still a lot of tower building going on too, lest you forget it is free play!

We started letter D, color green and shape triangle today.  All of the kids are excited to begin a new letter each week and see what sound it makes and find things in their environment that make that sound.  I told them today that I'm excited to get through colors and shapes so we can start numbers.  One child said, "You mean we get to learn our numbers too!"  Of course, this is preschool!

Square, Triangle and Letter E



Letter A



A Big Tower and Letter L (looks like a V from
our direction, but I assure you, it's an L)