Using Stage Blocks in the Classroom
Stage blocks are versatile staging units that can be used to construct a number of different stages. They are also ideal for transforming an existing set to accommodate a specific event or performance. Modular staging allows instructors to plan their movements across the classroom space in order to enliven lectures and discussions. They can also be utilized as precise stage positioning tools for performances.
Blocking is the carefully planned choreography of actors on a theater stage. Instructors can use blocking in the classroom to enliven lectures and discussions, highlight important concepts, and improve student engagement. For example, walking toward students who appear disengaged can prompt them to return to the subject matter.
Building the Foundation: Exploring the Versatility of Stage Blocks in Staging and Design
At this stage of block play children will experiment with constructing rows and stacks, adding a new level of complexity to their bridges and passageways. They will also start to create enclosures by closing in spaces. During this early representational stage, children will add props like toy cars and animals to their building constructions. Then they will begin to incorporate these structures into elaborate pretend play stories.
At this stage, children will begin naming their structures and using them for functional purposes. This is when block play becomes truly dramatic. They will even begin to interact with each other through collaborative play and negotiation of what to build and how. At this point, they will often use their blocks to represent familiar structures and buildings such as shops and schools.
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