Environments and Materials

We’ve curated a collection of resources from our Teaching Preschools, Opal School and other curious minds for you to explore. Use these images, stories, tools, videos and articles as a spark — we hope you’ll find inspiration. This collection is intended to invite you to think alongside us about what happens when materials are used for tools for thinking within classroom environments.

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Starting with Loose Parts
Publications and Tools

Starting with Loose Parts

Loose Parts: Images for Inspiration
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Opal School Opal School

Loose Parts: Images for Inspiration

Using Potter’s Clay with Young Children
Environments and Materials

Using Potter’s Clay with Young Children

  For young children the sensory world is a source of satisfaction, and imagination is the source of exploratory delight.…Read More.
Oil Based Clay
Environments and Materials
Tools and Publications

Oil Based Clay

Preparing an invitation to explore a new material is like setting a table- a table of possibilities.  Taking the time…Read More.
The Wonder of Intelligent Materials
Environments and Materials

The Wonder of Intelligent Materials

FROM THE OPAL ARCHIVE: This video shares images from Opal School classrooms of children working with a variety of different…Read More.
Designing a new preschool classroom
Environments and Materials
New to Playful Inquiry?

Designing a new preschool classroom

A STORY FROM THE FIELD By Melinda Hayward, Prescott Teaching Preschool Designing a new preschool classroom (excerpt from the Field…Read More.
Setting the Table with Watercolors
Environments and Materials

Setting the Table with Watercolors

FROM THE OPAL ARCHIVE: 09/2019 – Written by Matt Karlsen, Director of Opal School’s Center for Learning To learn more…Read More.