Discovery Stations<\/u>:<\/div>
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You will all by now be familiar with our Discovery Stations! Research is telling us that learning through play is a powerful vehicle indeed, and, as teachers, we are observing, every day, literacy, mathematical and social learning occurring at the Discovery Stations on offer.<\/div>
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'Play is a powerful vehicle for learning, thinking, generating ideas and communicating. Play thus creates potential spaces in which a child always behaves beyond his\/her average age, above his\/her daily behaviour; in play it is as though he were a head taller than him\/herself.'<\/div>
Vygotsky<\/div>
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We have found that play activities are a wonderful way to develop the Key Competencies:<\/div>
- Thinking<\/li>
- Relating to others<\/li>
- Using language, symbols and texts<\/li>
- Managing self<\/li>
- Participating and contributing<\/li><\/ul>Play embraces all of the Key Competencies, especially self-management. It's a very natural way to promote self-management without making the activity seem contrived. An added bonus to starting each day with Discovery Stations, is that those children who might struggle to say goodbye in the morning, tend to settle much more easily when there are play activities on offer. <\/div>
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