Friend "K" and Toddler "K" have an interest in vehicles and ramps. To expand that interest, the Block Area was updated to include these FisherPrice mechanic shops, Letter cars, and hot wheels. The friends took turns sending an assortment of vehicles down ramps, determined which ramps worked best which each kind of vehicle, used the elevator to bring vehicles to different levels of the building, pretended to gas up vehicles, and even sent them through the "car wash."
In the Toy and Puzzle Area, one of the new attractions is the Mix 'n Match Motors. These car parts are magnetic and allow the students to design their own vehicles, from trains to big rigs, cement mixers to excavators... and any hybrid the child can imagine. The problem solving that occurred with these toys was neat to watch as the students created vehicles that accomplished what THEY wanted to do: move materials, drive quickly, carry loads, or be the first hybrid of its kind. :)
Similar play happened with the Duplo Legos. There are so many ways to build a car or train.
The train tracks offer endless opportunities for imagination, and different layouts pop up on the rug daily! One of the most recent observations has included the idea that shorter trains drive faster. Long trains must drive slowly or they break apart too easily. One child asked, "How do you make it go? Is there a button or something?" Nope, this wonderful toy is powered by school friends. They connect the tracks, the trains, the sounds, and the power to chug down the tracks. Watching these connections happen is like literally watching the friends' brains grow right there on the rug. It's awesome!
