Recognised schemas are known as the following:
1. Transporting schema
Children enjoy repeatedly moving resources, and themselves, from one place to another. To help support this you
can provide blocks, puzzles and vehicles to encourage them to pick up, move along and put down the objects.
Providing physical activities outdoors and using wheelbarrows to move things like sand or water will also support
this behaviour.
2. Connecting schema
Children enjoy tying string to objects to drag them around, they also enjoy weaving ribbon in and out of resources.
This helps them investigate how materials can be linked and their relationship to one another. Water play offers
children the opportunity to practise connecting pipes and guttering. Creative activities provide opportunities to
stick, staple, tie, cut and tear.
3. Rotational schema
Have you noticed that some children display a preference for turning taps on and off, winding and unwinding
string, and playing with hoops. They may also be fascinated with the physical experience of twirling and twisting
the body, and rolling themselves down a hill. To help support this rotational schema you can use your outdoor
space for bikes, playing parachute and circle games, pushing trolleys and wheelbarrows around.
4. Trajectory schema
A fascination with the horizontal, vertical and diagonal movement of things, and self. To be able to explore this
schema, children need to experience space and how movement occurs within it. You should provide an outdoor
and a larger indoor area there is plenty of space for children to stack blocks on top of each other and knock them
down again. Planks are also great for making ramps and rolling objects down.
5. Enveloping /enclosing schema
During your teaching career you may have noticed children interested in wrapping themselves up, covering and
hiding items, or getting into boxes and closing the lid. Children get deeply involved in exploring how they can fit
themselves and other items inside. You can encourage this play by providing den-building equipment, dressing up
clothes, blankets and pieces of fabric.
6. Transforming schema
Children are fascinated by how materials change their state and enjoy mixing substances together. You should offer
materials such as sand, mud and soil for mixing and discovering how materials change consistency when wet or dry.
Your role
Observe: When you observe children over time you
will begin to see patterns. If your setting has learning
journals, you can document this behaviour there.
Support: Subtly support a child’s actions, offer
resources and plan experiences that will motivate
them to explore further.
Extend: Plan resources and opportunities to extend
the child’s experience and use of a schema, at the
child’s pace.
Find out more about Schemas!
Join our upcoming Schema Play CPD:
Date: 22nd August 2017
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: AED 175/150 CACHE Student
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