Young Architects at Play - by Ann Gadzikowski (Paperback)

About the Book

More than 20 children's construction play activities to encourage STEM learning and the power of stories.

Book Synopsis

"In Young Architects at Play Ann Gadzikowski skillfully blends research, practical insights, and a deep knowledge of facilitation to provide educators and caregivers a rich tapestry of how to lead children through learning as they play. Working across digital and physical worlds, easing planning and encouraging observation while reminding us how fun learning is, this manual is a testament to the marriage of art and science that is early childhood learning! Welcome to your journey of playing with your student or child!" --Tarun Varma, experience implementation specialist, LEGO Foundation

When children build with blocks, they are both literally and figuratively constructing their knowledge of the world. When we see children's construction play through the lens of architecture, we are able to support and extend children's learning on all four STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering, and math. Young Architects at Play is a guide for both teachers and parents and includes a diverse variety of activities and resources. More than 20 projects involve both traditional classroom materials like unit blocks as well as natural materials, found objects, cardboard, and authentic woodworking materials.

Throughout the book, Ann Gadzikowski makes meaningful connections between STEM learning and the power of stories, both the children's own narratives as well as the rich diversity of stories and illustrations from children's literature.

Review Quotes

"In Young Architects at Play Ann Gadzikowski skillfully blends research, practical insights, and a deep knowledge of facilitation to provide educators and caregivers a rich tapestry of how to lead children through learning as they play. Working across digital and physical worlds, easing planning and encouraging observation while reminding us how fun learning is, this manual is a testament to the marriage of art and science that is early childhood learning! Welcome to your journey of playing with your student or child!" --Tarun Varma, experience implementation specialist, LEGO Foundation

"A delightful, thorough, must-read primer for teaching architecture to children, Ann Gadzikowski's Young Architects at Play reminds us that architecture is personal and intuitive, especially for our youngest learners. Filled with creative, multi-sensory activities, Young Architects is an easy-to-read tool for parents and educators alike." --Rebecca Boland, manager of school and family programs, Chicago Architecture Center

"Young Architects at Play is a good help for preschool teachers both in theory and practice to embrace architecture, building and construction in a playful and pedagogic way." --Suzanne de Laval, co-director, Architecture & Children Work Programme UIA (International Union of Architects) "Young Architects at Play is as inventive as it is accessible and interesting. Filled with compelling and creative ideas and questions it is a gem of a book and a valuable resource for the classroom and of every educator looking to deepen the learning and play of children." --Kelly Blondin, art specialist, Preschool of the Arts

"In Young Architects at Play: STEM Activities for Young Children, author Ann Gadzikowski explores the interconnectedness of architectural play, play that is inherently complex and interdisciplinary as children work together to solve challenges ranging from structural engineering and design to artistic and linguistic expression. The book is filled with a depth and breadth of examples, inspiring educators to generate their own classroom examples that challenge the status quo in the field of Early Childhood Education." --Alison Maher, MA, executive director, Boulder Journey School

"Young Architects at Play is an insightful tool that can help us build long-overdue connections between the topics of Architecture, Early Childhood Education and dynamic STEM projects. The building blocks of education can begin with inspiring questions such as this one from Gadzikowski's beautiful new book, 'I noticed your tower fell over and now you're building it again. Are you doing it the same way or doing something new?' A great question for us all." --Frances Judd, special projects coordinator, early childhood TESLab teacher, Bennett Day School

"As we think about children being the designers and builders of their play, Young Architects at Play acts as a blueprint for how to support children's construction play and digs deeply into why construction play supports learning." Elizabeth Tertell, MEd CAS, senior instructor, Erikson Institute

"Young Architects at Play is a user-friendly treasure for teachers, with an emphasis on both play and on learning to encourage truly playful learning. This inspiring resource makes STEAM experiences easy to implement, with lots of open-ended questions." --Laurie Sahn, MEd, kindergarten teacher

"At last! Ann Gadzikowski's must-have book of innovative ideas emphasizing STEM-rich construction projects finally shines a spotlight on the many benefits of introducing architecture to young children. The fifteen skillfully designed and beautifully illustrated projects with suggestions for materials, starting points, extensions, and resources, will inspire educators and parents to challenge, engage, and delight their aspiring young architects." --Rosanne Regan Hansel, author of Creative Block Play, and former early childhood specialist for the NJ Dept of Education and the NSF-funded Math Science Partnership at Rutgers University

About the Author

Ann Gadzikowski is the director of early learning for Encyclopedia Britannica, and is the author of curriculum books, teaching guides, classroom readers, and numerous publications for parents of young children. Her book Creating a Beautiful Mess: Ten Essential Play Experiences for a Joyous Childhood won gold in the 2015 National Parenting Publications Awards, and her book Robotics for Young Children won the 2018 Midwest Book Awards.