Some Strategies for Guiding Developmentally Appropriate Sensory Learning Experiences
(ages 3 to 5)

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Are the materials selected those that:

• Children will naturally gravitate to for play?
  
• Provide opportunities for the development of perceptual abilities through total involvement of the senses (perception of color, size, shape, texture, hardness, sound, etc.)?
  
• Encourage self-directed problem solving and experimentation?
  
• Children act upon, cause to move, or that encourage children's observations of changes?

Do the experiences that evolve from children's play with the materials:

• Provide opportunities for the teacher to extend the child's learning by asking questions or making suggestions that stimulate children's thinking?
  
• Allow for additional materials to be introduced gradually to extend children's explorations and discoveries?
  
• Allow for differences in ability, development, and learning style?
  
• Allow for children to interact freely with other children and adults?
  
• Encourage children to use their senses to observe, compare, classify, predict, communicate?
  
• Allow for the integration of curriculum areas?

   Adapted from Theoretical Framework from Preschool Science Experiences,by Robert F. Smith

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