Transform Play-based Learning with Six Bricks

In the heart of a bustling suburban community, Willow Grove Primary School (not their real name) faced challenges common to many childhood educators: 

The challenge was how to engage children meaningfully while supporting diverse learning needs?  

• How do you implement playful learning and still have to meet the requirements of the curriculum? 
• How do you improve all aspects of child development so that children are set up with skills for school success? 
• How do you introduce interactive classroom activities that support the holistic growth of children? 
• How do you follow a pedagogical approach using amazing resources that that gives a positive learning experience? 

Traditional methods were falling short, and the school sought a solution that was innovative, inclusive, and adaptable.  

Enter Six Bricks, a simple yet powerful play-based learning tool that would transform their teaching approach.  

This is their story, and it’s a testament to the power of Six Bricks and the resources from SixBricksLearning.com. 

The Starting Point: Identifying the Need 

Willow Grove’s childhood educators recognised that their children struggled with essential developmental areas like cognitive flexibility, hand-eye coordination, inhibitory control and fine and gross motor movement.  

They needed an approach to hands-on, experiential learning that could: 

• Engage all learners regardless of their starting point and would focus on holistic development. 

• Support differentiated instruction for neurodiverse and autistic children. 

• Enhance critical skills like memory, problem-solving, and focus. 

• Provide hands-on learning opportunities through concrete materials that aligned with global and national education standards. 

The Six Bricks Solution for Play-based Learning

After discovering the resources at SixBricksLearning.com, the school began incorporating Six Bricks activities into their daily routines.  

Six Bricks, a hands-on learning tool, uses six brightly coloured bricks to engage children in playful, purposeful activities that enhance cognitive, physical, and emotional skills. 

The Six Bricks approach was initially developed by Brent Hutchenson and his team at Care for Education in South Africa. It also has the endorsement of the LEGO Foundation. 

It has since been used around the world by trained educators, Occupational Therapists and Primary Educators as an educational resource and a powerful teaching tool. 

Essentially, it’s a set of simple exercises that boost core learning skills. 

The main resource that is needed is a set of bricks in bright colours: Light and dark blue, yellow bricks, orange, red and green bricks. 

Implementation: How They Did It 

1. The education team first completed Six Bricks training. This helped them to understand the Bricks basics and Six Bricks principles. They gained insight into the theory that sits behind this educational approach. 

They completed an online course which was supplemented by several live webinar classes to explore more deeply the Six Bricks methodology. 

And completed their assignments in order to receive a certificate. 

2. They then ordered sets of Six Bricks resources and Bricks materials for their school so that each child had access to packs of bricks for their skill development. 

3. The team also explored our online portal go see a bank of ideas for more activities to boost a range of skills. 

Following on from their initial training they moved forward with integrating Six Bricks in their learning centre. 

Daily Integration 

The educators integrated these educational activities into their daily schedule. They included Six Bricks into core teaching with structured and unstructured activities: 

1. Morning Warm-Ups: 

• Colour Sorting and Stacking: Children began each day sorting bricks by color and building towers, enhancing fine motor skills, visual memory skills, colour awareness and sensory skills. 

• Memory Games: Educators would display a brick pattern of a brick stack for a few seconds, then challenge children to recreate it from memory. 

2. Subject-Specific Learning: 

• Mathematical concepts: Children used the bright brick colours to learn counting, the concept of subtraction and even fractions by dividing bricks into groups. This was a positive way to use arithmetic exercises to boost abstract thinking. 

• STEM Challenges: Activities like building a weight-bearing bridge introduced basic engineering concepts. Mode advanced children began to boost their computational skills. 

• Literacy and language development: Educators used bricks to spell simple words or build scenes from stories, enhancing language skills. The bricks also helped develop positional language as well as bilateral & cross-lateral movements which are essential for learning to read.  

3. Social-Emotional Learning: 

• Children worked in pairs or groups to build collaborative structures to improve collaboration among children. 

• Educators encouraged children to use bricks to represent emotions, helping younger children articulate feelings. 

4. Perceptual Skills Development: 

• Children engaged in quick activities during the school day such as matching colours and creating symmetrical patterns This improved their visual and tactile perception. 

Supporting Neurodiverse Learners 

Six Bricks proved especially beneficial for neurodiverse and autistic children. Activities were easily adaptable: 

• Simplified Tasks: For children needing extra support, educators broke activities into smaller, manageable steps. 

• Sensory Engagement: The tactile nature of Six Bricks helped children with sensory processing challenges stay engaged. Educators noted how much the active participation among children improved dramatically. 

The Results: A Measurable Impact thourgh Play-based Learning

After just one semester, the school observed remarkable improvements through using this hands-on tool: 

Cognitive Development 

• Improved Memory: Children demonstrated better recall in listening to instructions. 

• Enhanced Problem-Solving: Activities like constructing symmetrical patterns or solving brick puzzles strengthened critical thinking. 

Social-Emotional Growth 

• Teamwork: Educators noted increased collaboration and empathy during group activities. 

• Resilience: Children became more comfortable with trial-and-error learning, embracing mistakes as opportunities. 

Physical Skills 

• Fine Motor Coordination: Activities requiring precise stacking or balancing significantly improved dexterity. 

• Gross Motor Development: Games involving jumping or stepping on specific brick colours promoted physical fitness. 

Academic Readiness 

• STEM Foundations: Six Bricks activities provided hands-on exposure to engineering, physics, and mathematical concepts. 

• Literacy Skills: Storytelling and word-building activities strengthened language learning. 

All in all – a whole series of amazing learning opportunities! 

Examples of Play-based Learning Six Bricks Activities 

Here are some examples that will take you a couple of minutes to implement: 

1. Bridge Building Challenge 

Objective: Construct a bridge using Six Bricks that can hold a small object, such as a toy car. 

• Skills Developed: Engineering principles, problem-solving, teamwork. 

• Extension: Test how much weight the bridge can hold by adding coins or small items. 

2. Pattern Replication 

Objective: Create a brick pattern and challenge children to replicate it. 

• Skills Developed: Memory, sequencing, attention to detail. 

• Extension: Increase the complexity by adding multiple layers or dimensions. 

3. Emotion Match 

Objective: Assign emotions to brick colours (e.g., red = angry, blue = calm) and ask children to build structures representing their feelings. 

• Skills Developed: Emotional articulation, self-awareness, creativity. 

4. Maths Towers 

Objective: Use bricks to solve maths problems (e.g., build a tower with the sum of 3+2 bricks). 

• Skills Developed: Basic arithmetic, visualisation, critical thinking. 

5. Maze Runner 

Objective: Create a maze with bricks and guide a small object through it. 

• Skills Developed: Spatial awareness, strategy, fine motor control. 

6. Shape Builder 

Objective: Construct 2D and 3D shapes, such as triangles, squares, and pyramids. 

• Skills Developed: Geometry, spatial reasoning, creativity. 

7. Weight Distribution Experiment 

Objective: Stack bricks in various ways to see how weight can be distributed evenly. 

• Skills Developed: Engineering concepts, critical thinking, maths concepts, experimentation. 

8. Coding Simulation 

Objective: Use bricks to simulate basic coding commands (e.g., red = move forward, blue = turn right) and guide a “robot” (student) through a path. 

• Skills Developed: Computational thinking, logic, sequencing. 

9. Community Building 

Objective: Work as a group to build a model of a town or community with Six Bricks, including houses, roads, and landmarks. 

• Skills Developed: Collaboration, creativity, spatial planning. 

10. Symmetry Challenge 

Objective: Build a symmetrical design with Six Bricks, ensuring both sides mirror each other perfectly. 

• Skills Developed: Visual perception, precision, geometric understanding. 

Key Takeaways for Educators and Parents of Play-based Learning

The success at Willow Grove wasn’t just about the activities but also about the resources and support available through SixBricksLearning.com: 

• Comprehensive Guides: Step-by-step instructions for implementing Six Bricks activities across subjects. 

• Professional Development: Webinars and workshops that helped educators feel confident using the tool. 

• Community Support: A network of educators sharing best practices and innovative ideas. 

Why Six Bricks Works 

Six Bricks is uniquely effective as a powerful teaching tool because it: 

• Is Versatile: Activities can be adapted for any age or skill level. 

• Encourages Play: Combines fun with purposeful and playful learning. 

• Supports Core Skills: From fine motor development to executive functioning, Six Bricks addresses a wide range of learning objectives. 

• Fosters Inclusion: Activities are easily adjustable, making them accessible for all learners, including neurodiverse children. 

Join the Movement 

Willow Grove’s story is just one example of how Six Bricks can transform learning. Whether you’re a teacher, caregiver, or administrator, SixBricksLearning.com has everything you need to get started: 

• Explore a library of online activities. 

• Access printable materials and video tutorials. 

• Connect with a global community of Six Bricks educators. 

Start your Six Bricks journey today and see how this innovative tool can empower your children to thrive. Together, let’s build a brighter future, one brick at a time. 

Email us with questions at sixbrickslearning.com/contact/ 

How to be trained:

NOTE: 

How Parents Can Use Six Bricks for Play-based Learning

This exciting tool is used mainly by schools, parents can also easily incorporate Play-based Learning Six Bricks into home activities, turning everyday moments into fun and educational experiences.  

Here are some ideas: 

1. Morning Routine Activities 

• Quick Sorting: Have children sort bricks by color or size before breakfast. This simple activity warms up their brains and prepares them for the day. 

• Pattern Challenge: Lay out a pattern and challenge your child to replicate it while you prepare for the day. 

2. Family Bonding Games 

• Story Building: Use bricks as props to create a family story. Each family member adds a new element, building creativity and storytelling skills. 

• Tower Competition: Compete to build the tallest or most stable tower in under a minute. 

3. Homework Support 

• Maths Practice: Use bricks for counting, addition, subtraction, or even multiplication. For example, create groups of bricks to visualise equations. 

• Spelling Assistance: Assign letters to bricks and have children spell their vocabulary words. 

4. Outdoor Play 

• Obstacle Courses: Use bricks as markers for jumping, balancing, or hopping activities in the yard. 

• Treasure Hunt: Hide bricks around the garden and provide clues for children to find them, enhancing problem-solving and motor skills. 

5. Calming Down Time 

• Mindfulness Stacking: Encourage children to stack bricks slowly while focusing on their breathing. This helps them relax and refocus. 

• Quiet Patterns: Let children create symmetrical designs quietly, promoting mindfulness and creativity. 

6. Bedtime Wind-Down 

• Reflection Tower: Ask your child to stack a brick for each positive thing about their day, discussing each moment as they build. 

• Goodnight Stories: Build scenes with bricks to act out bedtime stories.