Hi Everyone- I hope its ok to answer this question here in a new thread outside the poll. I have been thinking about this question on how we work with children and the material arranging. In my classroom that is mixed ages ( 1yo-5 yo) we have baskets on the shelves with materials open for the children to use as they see fit. Baskets of fabrics, wood cookies, surface samples, corian squares etc. The children love adding them to their work with unit blocks, cars and people, magnatiles. Outside of puzzles and board games we dont really have 'toys' that have just one way to use them in the classroom. I include open ended materials in our sensory offerings as compliments to playdough or things to find in a sensory table. I sometimes will offer a table top activity that might be a circle shape of fabric and a variety of items that could lead to creation of a face. I might have a mirror set on the table for the child to look into for referencing theri own face. But even in the "set up invitation's" the children often make something that was not my expectation and often is much more beautiful than I could have imagined. Loose parts materials are all over our classroom and many outside as well! I think that the information table events we have done have shown us that the children understand and are open to all the ways to arrange and 'play' with materials in novel ways outside of what the original intent was. It is the adults that seem to have amnesia or forgotten their inner creativity. I have seen that it is still there inside of everyone if given the time and space, everyone can start to hear the language of these open materials and begin to remember the joy as they work with the materials. I think its very true, that we need these types of opportunities for everyone as part of our mental health. Brian Sutton-Smith said "The opposite of play is not work, its depression" and I think its especially true when screens have taken over peoples time. I am including some photos for fun of the classroom, and our table events!

This week's invitation is all about the simple act of arranging. No need to search for or collect materials. I've created a Fall Paper Material Collection you can print, cut out, and begin exploring right away. The collection includes fall-inspired paper materials, a wooden tray, and two different surfaces for arranging. https://www.skool.com/designboards-studio-7019/classroom/998d0552?md=317977f5da894b75bcdae4b6f47a3c0f Start by placing the cut-out pieces in the tray. Then simply begin. There's nothing you need to make and no right way to arrange the pieces. For now, just experience what happens when you begin moving things around. Follow your curiosity. Notice what catches your attention. See what possibilities emerge. Then comeback to this MAP Moment and a share a photo in the comments by clicking the paperclip icon and selecting "Attach file." You can also tell us something you noticed, discovered, or perhaps something unexpected that surfaced along the way. And take a look at what others share. Does something someone else discovered spark another possibility for you? Arrange. Rearrange. And begin again.

Choose three different types of materials that catch your attention and gather a few of each. They might be stones, buttons, pieces of paper, leaves, wooden shapes— or simply three things you have nearby. Place them on a surface and begin arranging. Move something. Turn something. Group pieces together. Separate them. Leave some space. There's nothing you need to make and no particular result you are looking for. Just stay curious and see what possibilities you discover. I started with three very ordinary things— forks, matches, and paperclips. Swipe through to see a few of the possibilities that surfaced as I moved and arranged them. Now I would love to see what happens with yours. Share a photo in the comments: Look for the paperclip icon and then select "Attach File" and tell us anything you noticed, discovered, or didn't expect along the way. Then take a peek at what others share. Did something they discovered spark another possibility for you? Arrange. Rearrange. And begin again.

Hello- I am an early childhood educator inspired by the schools in Reggio Emilia Italy. I am also on the board of our educators network here in Minneapolis (Reggio-Inspired Network of MN) In 2020, we began exploring the possibility of creating a Creative Materials reuse center here in Minneapolis, inspired by the Remida in Reggio. I formed a committee to dig in to ways we could create it and after 6 years, 2 moves and working little by little, we have a pretty wonderful space. It is open to the community one night a week. We offer workshops, have had tray workshops with seniors inspired by Nicoles work, and been part of camps for youth in the summer. I am excited to be here and learn from everyone! I took a video this evening of our space and some of the items we collect. Our items are available at a suggested donation of $10 for a large grocery bag or $5 for a small bag. We had some young creators in the lab tonight so I couldnt get a wide view of the space but it gives you an idea of what we have set up!

Last night my mom was at our house eating pistachios (and other snacks 😋) . When she was finished, instead of throwing the shells away, she gathered them into a little pile and said something like: "Oh, I better take these home. I can use them in my arrangement of 3." I LOVED this. It was such a simple example of "Material Awareness". They weren't just pistachio shells headed for the trash anymore. She was seeing them as materials full of possibilities. This is something I hope we begin doing here at MAP— developing a deciphering eye and beginning to notice the shapes, textures, colors and possibilities in ordinary objects we might overlook. Have you caught yourself looking at anything different lately? If you do, now or later, snap a photo and share it with us. I'd love to see what you're noticing. @Paola Lopez @Heidi Wolf @Ninon Gore @Angélique Rouet @Kris Francefort @Denise Torp @Dottie Podgorny @Kim Thomason @Maggie Guggenheimer @Elizabeth Girvan