The Power of Found Materials.

The session on "Enriching Classroom Play Through Play Materials" had a significant shift in how I define a high-quality learning environment. Until now, I have considered effective teaching materials to include reading materials, worksheets, and store-bought toys. However, engaging in the hands-on activity where we used natural materials like flowers, leaves, sticks, and stones to create our own creative rhymes completely dismantled that bias. By using these open-ended, 'loose parts' materials, we were not just playing and having fun but we were actively constructing knowledge and building creativity. I realized that when materials don't have a fixed purpose they let a child to become an inventor rather than a passive consumer of knowledge. 

The experiences and learnings have changed my approach to future classroom planning. I now recognize that as a teacher, my role is to act as a 'collector' of the materials around us. Instead of waiting for the school to provide materials, I can curate an ever-changing environment using an abundance of natural and recyclable resources available in the locality. By setting up rotating stations equipped with diverse found materials, I can provide my children with the autonomy to experiment, combine, and redesign their own learning experiences. I will make sure that my classroom is a place where my classroom is a place where students are enjoying and at the same time challenged to see the potential for discovery in the everyday objects they encounter.