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.
- World of Colors Kit
- The Shape of Things Kit
- Lace, Stack and Sort Kit
- Letters and Numbers Kit
- Learn to Measure Kit
- 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.
- Peppa Pig® Phonics Kit
- Paw Patrol® Phonics Kit
- Pinkalicious® Phonics Kit
- Marvel™ Phonics Kit
- Biscuit® Phonics Kit
- Little Critter® Phonics Kit
- Fancy Nancy® Phonics Kit
- Berenstain Bears® Phonics Kit
- 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).
- Castles and Dragons STEAM Kit
- Flowers and Unicorns STEAM Kit
- Outdoor Adventure Pretend Play Kit
- Police and Firefighter Kit
- 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