tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338292711957269138.post553002970866773649..comments2010-11-08T18:07:14.401-05:00Preschool Playbookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512633305960832097noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338292711957269138.post-74978549249293129372010-11-08T18:07:14.401-05:002010-11-08T18:07:14.401-05:00now according to the rating system in NC, no INTERLOCKING blocks of any type are allowed; such as bristle blocks, duplos, etc. these are considered manipulatives...maureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16021984270525762510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338292711957269138.post-59198880302085747222009-08-05T17:20:17.688-04:002009-08-05T17:20:17.688-04:00Love this post and these comments. I could not have stumbled across this article at a better time. Since I am working to build a new block center in my house. <br /><br />See my article here:<br />http://theattachedmama.blogspot.com/2009/08/tips-for-setting-up-block-center-in.htmlCathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12004884623249587905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338292711957269138.post-26105166006225811532009-05-02T19:29:00.000-04:002009-05-02T19:29:00.000-04:00After reading your post I immediately thought of this paper - <br /><br />http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-23071239_ITM<br /><br />It's about how the block center can foster dramatic play, very interesting and even some pretty funny parts for teachers.Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10337237345037914521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338292711957269138.post-37184764933436397132009-04-29T13:30:00.000-04:002009-04-29T13:30:00.000-04:00This is a great post!!!! I have tons of blocks and haven't really taken the time to organize them well for play. Now I feel like I have some direction. Thanks for the great information. <br /><br />I also have the PVC pipes that BranFlakes talks about and the kids LOVE them.Miller Momentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03994619037840617955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338292711957269138.post-78328478638829469442009-04-29T13:28:00.000-04:002009-04-29T13:28:00.000-04:00I made my own big blocks by taking cardboard food containers (cereal, cracker, spagetti, ect boxes and stuffing them with newspaper and then covering them with white contact paper. They help up very well and the kids LOVED them. <br /><br />I also had the kids make their own hollow blocks. I had lowes cut 2x4 into 8 inch pieces, then we screwed them together forming hollow boxes. We even painted them with koolaide. The kids were so proud of their homemade blocks.<br /><br />One of my favorite items to put in my block center was pvc pipes. I had lowes cut them into 1 foot long pieces. They I bought every type of connector they had. They kids made giant structures with these. The best part was that it sometimes took alot of teamwork to build something.BranFlakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10066277684418559604noreply@blogger.com