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The Empowered Educator

Inspiring ideas, training and resources for early learning.

Exploring Colour & Texture Outdoors with Window Blocks!

by The Empowered Educator 13 Comments

Runny noses and sneezes have taken hold of the toddler twosome again this week so I have been trying to introduce a few quieter toddler friendly activities that still allow them to have fun with some play based learning but also just sit and rest at times to.

We live in an old federation style house which I absolutely love but it is freezing in Winter…it is nicer outside and healthier for the twins to be in the sunshine and fresh air when sick so on a particularly chilly Aussie morning we headed out the back with our coloured window blocks for some experimenting…

HOW TO EXPLORE COLOUR WITH BLOCKS
These blocks have been played with a lot inside and on the verandah but I thought it would be nice to have a little play with them out in the full sun because that is where they really provide a magical experience!
I wanted to explore how they would interact with them on different surfaces and textures so we moved around the yard with our little basket….there are lots of photos sorry but they were just so pretty and the toddler twosome were playing so beautifully with them !!! I won’t be offended if you scroll through!!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

I first set them up on some of our big boulders and the girls moved them around to make colourful patterns…we talked about how to make the shapes bigger and smaller by turning them different angles, how to make sure the sun was shining through them and why it didn’t work if their shadow covered the blocks…..
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
There was lots of stacking and moving around to find the perfect shape and colour, they also pulled out some of tree blocks to use as a base….They had to use their problem solving skills as the rocks were uneven and the blocks fell over frequently!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

An added bonus of using the boulders was that both girls were able to find their own space and create in the way they wanted to and yet still come back to play when they felt inclined to work together.

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

It’s important to have some space as a toddler when you are feeling off colour but still wanting to play!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Tara then excitedly discovered that if she moved the blocks to the edge of the rock the colour would shine on the grass…..if she put her finger there it became pink too….amazing!!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
ย ย 
This led to a whole new game of discovery and learning…and they found that without any prompting from me….sometimes it’s important to just sit back and watch or you will miss that toddler genius at work!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
As they turned around from that game we noticed that the blocks formed colourful shadows on the fence mesh ย but you had to hold them at just the right angle…..

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

It was also pretty exciting to see their own shadows too!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Ruby then began carting the blocks over to her ‘rock growing’ area (I know…sweet right?) and she was fascinated with the clear colours that formed on the surface of the dirt. This was much easier than balancing them on the rocks and I noticed she became a lot busier with the building aspect of the play ย on this surface.
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Meanwhile I placed a few of the blocks into our rice tub as a play prompt…..Tara loved this idea as she could bury the blocks into the rice and it made them easier to manoeuvre and construct in the way she wanted to….
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
They also made some lovely bright colours on the rice which was fun to scoop up and pour only to discover the colours then disappeared!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Our new Sand and Rock Quarryย ย provided another texture for the blocks and the colours showed up beautifully on the white sand…..
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

As the sand is shallow and softer it made it easy for the girls to position the blocks where they wanted them and to move easily to change the shapes and patterns made….They also made fantastic towers and obstacles for the cars and animals!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

By this time it had actually been a huge morning and I was trying to herd them inside for lunch (yes I do mean herd them…they are wily when they want to stay outside!!) I put the basket of blocks on the table while I hung out the washing and when I turned around this is what I discovered…

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Elmo being told to look through the coloured window and the building of a ‘gate’ for Elmo (Ruby’s current best friend)

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Building trains and gates became the game and I heard ‘red means stop’ quite a few times! But they did eventually help me pack everything back into the basket!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
These blocks will certainly be coming outside with us again though…so many opportunities for problem solving, discovery and play…funny how everything seems to be just that little bit more exciting when it’s outdoors!
What ways do you find to explore colour outside?
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!
Why not take some blocks (any blocks) outside to play today!
Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Simple toddler activity ideas to explore colour and texture through outdoor block play!

Filed Under: Ideas for Home Daycare, Ideas for Language Development, Ideas for Outdoor Play, Ideas for Sustainability, Ideas for Toddler Twins, Outdoor Fun, Outdoor Learning

« Weekend Wanderings – Building a Pallet Sand Kitchen
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Comments

  1. Jackie@My Little Bookcase says

    25/06/2013 at 11:27 am

    I’d love to live in a heritage home. We just live in a post war weatherboard- which is cute.

    I call our house a Summer house. We have floorboards throughout and high windows. So, it’s also freezing in winter. I almost can’t stand it- but I don’t want to add carpet. So my poor kids suffer. ๐Ÿ™

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      30/06/2013 at 3:21 am

      Know what you mean Jackie..yikes those floorboards can get chilly with the gaps! It’s always colder inside than out in the sun! We have a few mats but not many!

      Reply
  2. Jackie@My Little Bookcase says

    25/06/2013 at 11:34 am

    Ooops! Was meant to say that the images of your girls playing with these blocks are amazing. I must get some ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  3. Eleanor @ Two of Everything says

    26/06/2013 at 7:14 pm

    I love this – it’s amazing how engaged they can become when you move things to a different space and give them a new perspective. I’m definitely going to take our window blocks outside now, as long as we get enough sunshine. I suspect our English summer isn’t much warmer than your Australian winter – it’s not much more than about 15 degrees most days!!

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      30/06/2013 at 3:23 am

      Oh my goodness Eleanor…that temperature is a cold Winter day for us here lol although we usually get under 10 overnight hehe!I really loved watching how engaged the girls became with the blocks outside…it was like they were a totally new toy!

      Reply
  4. Sara Murray says

    29/06/2013 at 1:59 am

    This is a lovely idea: fun, educational, pretty! Lovely photos.

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      30/06/2013 at 3:23 am

      What a lovely comment Sara…thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  5. Hannah says

    29/06/2013 at 5:47 am

    Beautiful photos of your block play! I love that you put them in the rice as a prompt. We have these blocks too and my kids love them! I posted some pics on my blog last night but I haven’t taken as many wonderful photos of our block play as you have. Just lovely! Hannah @ Paint on the ceiling

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      30/06/2013 at 3:24 am

      Thanks Hannah…will have to pop over to yours for a look! They are great blocks aren’t they and we loved taking them all over the yard!

      Reply
  6. Coombe Mill says

    29/06/2013 at 12:16 pm

    Another wonderful activity that the girls extended naturally with their great imaginations. I hope they are feeling much better and thanks for sharing your great outdoor fun with Country Kids.

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      30/06/2013 at 3:25 am

      The girls are beginning to feel better although this cold just seems to keep coming back unfortunately! This activity certainly did keep their little imaginations busy!

      Reply
  7. Leila - Mud Mud Marvellous Mud says

    01/07/2013 at 7:11 pm

    I love these coloured window blocks, they are just gorgeous. I am gonna have a hunt around for some of those.

    Reply
  8. PlainVanillaMom says

    19/10/2013 at 11:46 am

    Love these blocks. I just ordered some and can’t wait to get them. You’ve got some great ideas for playing with them here ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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Jodie
Hi, I'm Jode, Mum to 3 girls in Australia, and an early childhood educator, presenter and consultant.
I share ideas, inspiration & resources for play based, inquiry led learning
Find out more about me here...

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