Block Building at Sagebrook
Reception to Grade 1
Block building is at the heart of early learning at Sagebrook.
It nurtures creativity, collaboration, design thinking while allowing for practice in numeracy, literacy and scientific principles.
Stage
Tools for Play
Skills and Dispositions Built
Reception
Wood blocks used by all every day for large-scale play
Individual building becomes more collaborative
Designed for full-body exploration
Individual building becomes more collaborative
Designed for full-body exploration
Physical balance and strength
Early sense of cause and effect
Joyful curiosity
Early sense of cause and effect
Joyful curiosity
Early Years 1
Safe cardboard blocks for large-scale play
Wooden blocks introduced gradually
Walking trips and books for research
Wooden blocks introduced gradually
Walking trips and books for research
Strong grip and shape awareness
Dramatic play ehances language development
Cooperation and compromise increases
Dramatic play ehances language development
Cooperation and compromise increases
Early Years 2
Block inventory increased with wood people and animals based on a brick unit
Scaled building supports both imagination and logic
Used for individual and group work
Scaled building supports both imagination and logic
Used for individual and group work
Spatial reasoning and pattern spotting
Vocabulary enrichment from dramatic reenactments in buildings
Team problem-solving
Vocabulary enrichment from dramatic reenactments in buildings
Team problem-solving
Grade 1
Accessories for buildings created - paper money, clothing, books, tickets
Pulleys for lifts
Batteries, wires, light bulbs for illumination in buildings
Detailed, functioning cities presented to parents
Pulleys for lifts
Batteries, wires, light bulbs for illumination in buildings
Detailed, functioning cities presented to parents
Measurement, fractions, multiplication in practice
Understanding of interrelationships
Design thinking and engineering skills
Understanding of interrelationships
Design thinking and engineering skills
Daily Practice
All students build together as a whole class
Entirely child-directed, no teacher instructions
Visits to banks, shops, hospitals, etc for direct research
Building promotes collaboration, inquiry, and responsibility
Children organize clean-up of all buildings
Family Involvement
Children present buildings and community models
Builds confidence, ownership, and communication
Parents explore block materials and learn how they support development