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Active Learning Blog

04/14/2023

Active Learning Blog

Hands-on learning is an important part of the learning process. Thinking back, I’m sure you can all remember a project from your childhood that stayed with you. Caring for an egg, building a volcano for the science fair, growing a bean, or even drawing around your hand for a Thanksgiving turkey.

Active learning is any type of activity during class or outside of class that engages learners in deeper thought about the subject matter. The benefits to using such activities are many, including “improved critical thinking skills, increased retention and transfer of new information, increased motivation, and improved interpersonal skills” (Prince, 2004).

To help you create these exciting active learning experiences we created our STEAM to GO! Kits. These hands-on kits cover many topics from Magnets to Rocks & Fossils, Dinosaurs, Estimation & Patterns, Green Energy, Circuits, Science, Coding and more. A perfect addition to support learning inside or outside of school.

Penworthy has 50+ STEAM to GO! Kits, focusing on not just science but these additional key areas of learning.

Basic Skills: These kits use play to help build cognitive development while learning the basics in a fun, engaging manner.

  1. World of Colors Kit
  2. The Shape of Things Kit
  3. Lace, Stack and Sort Kit
  4. Letters and Numbers Kit
  5. Learn to Measure Kit
  6. Ready, Set, Kindergarten Kit

Phonics: These phonics kits help build the foundation for reading, can help those that need to catch up, or just enjoy the fun of playing and reading along with their favorite characters.

  1. Peppa Pig® Phonics Kit
  2. Paw Patrol® Phonics Kit
  3. Pinkalicious® Phonics Kit
  4. Marvel™ Phonics Kit
  5. Biscuit® Phonics Kit
  6. Little Critter® Phonics Kit
  7. Fancy Nancy® Phonics Kit
  8. Berenstain Bears® Phonics Kit
  9. Phonics Kit

Imaginative play: These kits build on the benefits of imaginative play as children learn critical thinking skills, how to follow simple directions, build expressive and receptive language, increase social skills, and learn how manage their emotions (Spivey, 2022).

  1. Castles and Dragons STEAM Kit
  2. Flowers and Unicorns STEAM Kit
  3. Outdoor Adventure Pretend Play Kit
  4. Police and Firefighter Kit
  5. Paw Patrol Play Kit

Each STEAM to GO! Kit comes with a book, 2-4 educational manipulatives, and a sturdy vinyl (see-through) zip bag. We’ve also included a laminated content sheet for all our kits, which list the items in each bag so you can track the contents after in-library programming or circulation.

Summer is coming and we’ve all heard of the “Summer Slide,” so let’s change things up and slide into fun and learning with Penworthy’s STEAM to GO! Kits.

 

Written by Nancy Stetzinger, Penworthy’s Product Manager

 

Sources:

Prince, M. (2004, July) Active Learning Improves Student Outcomes, www.cei.umn.edu

Spivey, M. (2022, October) What is Imaginative Play and Why is it Important for Young Children?, www.startearly.org

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