The students will:

• role play
• play cooperatively with others
• identify with character and interact appropriately
• use materials to represent real objects and situations
• draw from past experiences to problem solve
• play cooperatively
• dramatize with greater confidence
• resolve conflicts
• dramatize stories from reading material
• practice oral and written language
• plan and organize
• perform for an audience
  

Through observation and direct communication, assess whether the student:

• participates in spontaneous play at the housekeeping centre? at the dress up centre?
• plans and works with others
• records experiences? their structure? their presentation?
• solves problems through play
• uses language to serve a purpose
  

Manipulative Stage
The child:

• is an onlooker
• uses materials alone
• plays with a lack of organization and continuity
• has little or no communication with other children

• displays continuing in play and conversations
• uses imitative language
• begins role playing
• plays alone or with others
• speaks to others, developing conversation

• plays in a planned and organized way
• is involved in spontaneous continuous conversation and play
• may use other props from the room, e.g., blocks, books
• joins play group
• extends play to new places/roles, e.g., doctor’s office in the block centre
• begins reading and writing activities: signs, menus, labels, books, shopping lists, writing plays

Teaching/Assessment Strategies

Materials/Resources

• involve the students in deciding upon the theme and the materials required to support it
• model the role of characters appropriate to the theme
• visit a local store or business to observe and interview
• ask questions to extend activity and thought (e.g., How many do you have? What will they cost? Which one is largest/smallest? What is your job here? How many people are you expecting for dinner? What dishes will you need? What tool will you need to…?)
• encourage extensions and interactions with other centres
• provide materials for writing