The Connexion | Clever Play

Clever Play - Curriculum
	A must have for Grade R teachers! 10 Complete weekly themes for the first term. Me and my school. I'm unique - My body. Look at me - I can change. My senses. Clean and wise. This is where I live. Dangers in and around the house. My family. My family and emotions. My clothes. Grade R curriculum A young, healthy child is born with a curiosity to explore, discover and learn to interact with his/her environment. That is why a child never sits still – a child is born to learn! The early years are the ideal time for a child to learn how to learn in a fun and stress-free way whilst playfully preparing for ‘big school’. What does play mean? Play means that a child “discover learns” by finding things out for himself. The opposite of ‘discover learn’ is to tell or direct a child how to do things. Telling a child what to do is so much quicker than allowing him to discover for himself, but a child has only 6 years to learn a few basic skills – all the time in the world! Allowing a child to discover learn, gives him confidence and a feeling of: “I can learn and I am clever”. Showing, telling and instructing a child teaches him: “You don’t know, you need me to teach you”, which could make him feel less confident and less clever.

Where do you fit into this picture? The young child needs you whether you are a mommy, educator or child-minder, because Feuerstein says to be happy and clever, a child needs a caring adult who unlocks the world and gives it meaning. Piaget says a child also needs fixed anchors (constancy) to learn and develop – that constancy is you unlocking the world with care! From conception, the stimulated child unfolds and as he grows, he learns and develops as a “human becoming”. GROW means to increase in size, scope and function. DEVELOP means to gradually and measurably unfold in totality (physical, emotional, social and intellectual) on the way to maturity. MATURITY means accomplishing a set of skills and a level of independence and adaptability to function effectively in the environment. What the child will know, think and feel depends on you. You are the one that will choose the experiences he will learn from. What you do not offer, the child will not know.
*WHAT IS CLEVER PLAY®?* *Clever Play* is the first in a series of four books to span the entire Grade R year. It is a user-friendly resource that enables you to offer the preschool child as many experiences as possible to develop the necessary skills as defined in the NCS. This book comprises of 10 themes and theme posters each divided into easy to follow lesson plans for every day of the week. The toys, equipment and resources (package) for each lesson plan have been selected and indicated to make the implementation of *Clever Play* both affordable and practical for all learners in South Africa. The entire package can be ordered on here WHO COULD USE CLEVER PLAY? *Clever Play* is for all who needs guidance in teaching at: Home schools Farm schools Public schools X-model C schools Freestanding schools Community based schools. WHICH LEARNERS COULD BENEFIT FROM CLEVER PLAY? Activities are designed for all learners including advanced learners (enrichment) and learners with learning barriers.
OBSERVATION Observation guidelines are provided to observe the child’s well-being, level of involvement and development on a daily basis. ASSESSMENT Assessment is ongoing (continuous) and presented as an integral part of teaching and learning the *Clever Play* content. Various formal and informal assessment strategies have been included in a transparent manner so both educator and learner know what the expectations are. Guidelines for recording and reporting have been provided for the three learning programmes: Literacy - Language Numeracy - Mathematics Life skills - Life Orientation Other learning areas have also been integrated with the above. WORKSHEETS NO worksheets are provided because *Clever Play* follows the principals of brain development first developing the child three dimensionally using real objects. Later in the year worksheets will be introduced to develop the child on a semi-concrete level in preparation for big school.
*WHO DEVELOPED CLEVER PLAY?* *Clever Pay* has masterfully been designed and developed by Bramie Terblanche. Bramie was a cum laude student and is an experienced preschool teacher and principal with a passion for the playful development of the young child. In Clever Play she has managed to merge sound educational practices and knowledge with experience to present *Clever Play* within the frame work of the NCS. As any preschool teacher knows, this is no easy task. Within the diverse South African context Bramie has managed to make Grade R the preparation year it should be for all Grade R learners in our rainbow nation. She has accomplished this with sensitivity and a sense of fun. By skillfully taking care of the lesson preparation Bramie is empowering preschool educators to focus their energy and skills where it is needed – the Grade R child! NO student in ECD or preschool teacher should be without *CLEVER PLAY*. Dr Melodie de Jager Educationalist Author of BabyGym; Mind Dynamics; Clever Play Pre-School Programme; Mind Moves – removing barriers to learning. 011 888-5434

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