Play as Curriculum Grant

Funding Criteria:

 Complete application is due no later than 11:59 pm on due date listed.

 The items requested must be tools that enhance learning/development opportunities for a child
in the areas of: cognitive, physical, language, and social emotional.
 Funding will not be approved for requests of the following:
o Materials that are not developmentally appropriate for the age range indicated
o Televisions, DVD players, CD players, gaming systems, or electronic items
o Major appliances, copiers, computers
o Nap mats, cots, or cribs
o Food service equipment
 Funds will be given to applicants who best demonstrate how they will use the materials to
enhance learning/development opportunities for children.

Applicant Name Abbey Schwab

Provide a detailed description of your work with young children as it relates to this grant
opportunity: include specific age group you work with, type of setting/program, community
demographics, and other information that provides clear evidence of the need for this grant.
As a preschool teacher, I am working with ages three to five in a controlled setting. Our preschool is
located on the campus of a university. Most of the children that attend this preschool have parents
who are administrators and faculty on the university campus. These children have grown up in homes
where education is essential, and they are already starting to show their social competence. Our
program has one room where we have many different play stations for the children to learn. We have
a dramatic play area, a building area, a quiet time-space, and tables to color and eat snacks. At this
preschool, we focus on play as the primary way children learn about themselves and the world around
them. We learn about STEM, ourselves, and the relationships we have with those around us. We are
building skills in both academic and interpersonal areas. As a preschool teacher, I supervise the
children while also participating in every aspect of our day. We have three teacher’s aides and one
assistant teacher in the preschool. We have 20 students in this preschool, so we have one adult per
four children.

Applicant must explain, in their own words, how children’s learning is supported by play and define
the four domains to be highlighted by this grant as they apply to the applicant’s targeted age group
and setting: cognitive domain, language domain, physical domain, and social-emotional domain. 
Specifically, what does each domain “look” like for your target age group and setting.
Play is a critical part of a child’s life as they begin to make sense of all the things around them. Play is
not just something children do to have fun; children learn about themselves and their world. As
children play, they learn about how to behave in their culture and the social structures they will be
expected to participate in as they get older. In group play settings, children can learn how to express
their own needs and learn about the needs of others. There are four domains that play falls into:
cognitive, language, physical, and social-emotional. The cognitive domain is based on growth within
Play as Curriculum Grant
the intellectual and mental abilities; this domain focuses on science, technology, engineering, and
math (STEM). The cognitive domain also includes the critical aspect of problem-solving. As my three to
five-year-old students engage in the cognitive domain, it could consist of building with blocks, learning
their letters on the computer, counting their Crayons, examining a bug on the playground, or figuring
out how to put clothes on their dolls. The language domain is essential for a child to verbalize their
wants and needs to others. The children need to use, develop, and refine these verbal skills. Examples
of this domain for my age group include reading a book with a teacher, making up a verbal story with
dress-up clothes, listening to songs while dancing, and practicing making letters with Play-Doh. The
physical domain focuses on the child’s health, well-being, and overall safety. The main focus of this
domain is to build gross and fine motor skills. My students are discovering more and more what they
can do with their bodies and are learning coordination and balance on multiple surfaces. Items that
require stacking, placing into holes, and assembling will enhance fine motor skills. When children play
on equipment outside or run, jump, and skip, they will be building their gross motor skills. The social-
emotional domain focuses on relationships, emotions, feelings, independence, and self-esteem. This
domain is important for the child to learn about themselves and what role they take in life. Through
this domain, they learn to make rules, share, and take another’s perspective. Children will know what
they enjoy doing and when they need to take a break from something. This domain is present in
dramatic play, caring for a baby doll, group play, and mindfulness activities such as yoga. Children will
often fall into more than one domain when they play, which is great for building social competence
and needed life skills.
Play as Curriculum Grant
Selection of Materials to Support Learning & Development:
Cognitive Domain
Item Name, Recommended Detailed description of each item. Explain how
Picture of Item
Age Range, Supplier, Price the item supports the cognitive domain.
The Magnetic Counting This hardwood board is a counting maze
Maze is recommended with 55 colorful gumballs that you drag
for ages three to five. It is into each machine with a magnetic pen. It
from Lakeshore. $49.99 includes ten gumball machines, each
numbered one through ten. My students
can build familiarity with numbers and
practice counting. It will also help the
children to learn their colors and problem
solve. It is excellent for this age group
because they are beginning to learn math
skills, and they can still work on fine
motor skills if they are not old enough to
understand the number portion of it.
The Real-Working Cash This digital cash register has a real
Register is recommended calculator the children can use to learn
for ages three to nine. It numbers and add, subtract, multiply, and
is from Lakeshore. divide. The drawer opens to reveal play
$39.99 money they can use to learn money skills.
The children can swipe the credit card to
make purchases as well. This item is an
excellent aid to the cognitive domain
because it allows children to learn about
currency, count money, and practice their
numbers with the calculator. This cash
register is appropriate for this age group
because they are starting to understand
Clearly describe how each item would be used in a
developmentally appropriate manner for your
target age group within your program/classroom.
My students will use this magnetic
counting board when they decide they
want to play independently, as it is a great
individual activity. They can practice their
counting skills on their own at a table, or
they can have a teacher sit with them and
help identify numbers, colors and offer
guidance where needed. I will not use this
for a whole group since there will only be
one for the students. I will use this as an
aid during a lesson on math and counting
skills, where my students can take turns
throughout the day using the board to
practice by themselves.
My students will use this item in our
dramatic play area to practice their
numbers, gain familiarity with money,
take on the roles of others, and engage in
dramatic play. I will use this cash register
with a lesson about saving money in a
piggy bank and how children can use the
money they earn to buy things. It is never
too early to learn money management
skills. They can also use this cash register
to pretend they have a grocery store or
make purchases with their friends. The
great thing about this item is multiple
Play as Curriculum Grant
the value of money by doing chores people can use it and interchange their
around the house and making small roles from cashier and customer.
purchases.
Play as Curriculum Grant
Language Domain
Item Name, Recommended Detailed description of each item. Explain how
Picture of Item
Age Range, Supplier, Price the item supports the language domain.
The Storyteller Writing This Storyteller Writing Box allows
Box is recommended for children to create their own stories with a
ages three to six. It is bit of help. It includes 45 prompts in three
from Lakeshore. $29.99 mystery boxes with people, locations, and
context to encourage them to get creative
and enhance their verbal language skills.
All the children have to do is pull out a
card from each box and begin using their
imagination. This item is age-appropriate
for my students because their vocabulary
is growing immensely, and they want to
create stories. They can understand more
concepts, so the cards will not be too
complicated for them. This item supports
the language domain by building their
vocabulary, listening to others talk,
identifying words associated with images,
and learning to tell stories.
The Snap-Together Letter These colorful Snap-Together Letter
Blocks is recommended Blocks are a great way to learn your
for ages three to six. It is alphabet. Each block includes the
from Lakeshore. $59.99 uppercase and lowercase letters, so
children can learn to recognize both.
These 48 blocks snap together to build
words and sections of the alphabet. This
item is appropriate for my age group
because the younger children can focus
on the alphabet and letters, while the
older children can spell words with the
Cleary describe how each item would be used in a
developmentally appropriate manner for your
target age group within your program/classroom.
I will not have a specific lesson to go along
with this item because it can be used for
the children to play with at any time. It
will be great for not only verbal skills but
learning to be creative and imaginative.
Children will use the cards to expand their
creativity and practice their vocabulary.
Multiple students can use this to tell a
group story or play individually, speaking
the story aloud to themselves. My
students will be having fun with their
friends while also learning fine motor
skills as they pull cards out of the box.
Language skills will be enhanced while
verbalizing their story. When engaging in
a multiple-person tale, they will build
social-emotional skills to take others’
roles, share, and learn about emotions.
These blocks will be a great addition to a
lesson on the alphabet while reading
books to children and teaching my older
students how to read simple three-letter
words such as cat, hat, and mat. I can also
have these blocks out to use anytime the
children want to play with them as they
are a fun way to build and learn at the
same time. Not only will my students be
using these blocks to recognize letters and
words, but they can also enhance their
Play as Curriculum Grant
blocks. fine motor skills by picking up the blocks
and connecting them with the magnets.
Play as Curriculum Grant
Physical Domain
Item Name, Recommended Detailed description of each item. Explain how
Picture of Item
Age Range, Supplier, Price the item supports the physical domain.
The Hopscotch Carpet is This Hopscotch Carpet brings the fun of
recommended for ages an outdoor game inside. It is a soil-
three to seven. It is from resistant carpet with large squares and
Lakeshore. $49.99 numbers and two beanbags for the
children to throw. There is skid-proof
backing to ensure the children are safe
from slipping. This item is appropriate for
my age group because they are beginning
to learn more coordination and
movement of their limbs. Although their
appendages are often less controlled, this
is a great way to build the needed gross
motor skills. When they hop on one foot
into each square, they enhance their
coordination and balance. Exercise is
excellent for physical health, and children
can use this carpet to get their energy
out.
The Create and Design The Create and Design Drill Kit allows
Drill Kit is recommended children to create something unique using
for ages three to six. It is the 20 designs or make their own
from Lakeshore. $29.99 creations. It comes with a plastic board, a
power drill, a screwdriver, and 170
colorful assorted screws. This item is age-
appropriate for my students because they
have more fine motor skills than younger
children, and they love to use tools to
Cleary describe how each item would be used in a
developmentally appropriate manner for your
target age group within your program/classroom.
I would love to use this Hopscotch Carpet
in my classroom for everyday use. The
children can use this carpet to expand
their creativity by coming up with
different games like sitting on a specific
color or number, throwing the beanbag,
or jumping on a particular color square.
This item is great because it offers so
much diversity of what it can be used for
in my classroom. Children will also learn
cognitive and language skills when they
count the numbers aloud or say what
color square their foot is on. My students
will use this rug for individual play or
group play, depending on their
preferences. They can also do yoga on this
carpet and play with other toys on this
soft surface. It’s fun for all ages because
you can still hop from square to square
even if you do not know your numbers.
This drill kit would be an excellent way for
my students to take a break from playing
with the group. They can focus on
themselves and take time to create
something unique to them. If one of my
students feels overwhelmed, they can use
this item to relieve stress and recharge
their social battery. In addition to the
physical domain, children would gain
Play as Curriculum Grant
create designs. It can be as complicated as
they want or as simple as placing random
screws for fun; it is up to the child. This
item enhances fine motor skills by placing
small parts in holes and using a tool to
secure these pieces.
cognitive skills by problem-solving where
and how to secure the screws. They can
also use this set to engage in dramatic
play while pretending to be a carpenter,
taking on other roles, and developing
social-emotion skills.
Play as Curriculum Grant
Social-Emotional Domain
Item Name, Recommended Detailed description of each item. Explain how
Picture of Item
Age Range, Supplier, Price the item supports the social-emotional domain.
The Adventure Dress-Up The Adventure Dress-Up Trunk includes
Trunk is recommended 16 dress-up pieces, including hats, vests,
for ages three to six. It is jackets, and other items. These pieces
from Lakeshore. $189.00 create outfits for a pilot, explorer, and
archaeologist; you can also mix and match
them. Each clothing item closes with a
hook and loop, making it easy for children
to put on and take off. It also includes a
trunk to store the clothes easily. This item
is age-appropriate for my students
because they are starting to understand
others’ roles and occupations; they want
to emulate adults. They are beginning to
understand possession, and therefore,
they are more willing to share and play
with others, which is great for dressing
up. When children learn to take the roles
of others and engage in group play, they
are enhancing their social-emotional
skills. Playing with dress-up clothes allows
children to learn about themselves and
how they want to structure rules about
roles and stories.
Clearly describe how each item would be used in a
developmentally appropriate manner for your
target age group within your program/classroom.
I would love to use this dress-up trunk
with my class to teach different
occupations such as pilot, archaeologist,
and explorer. The children will be able to
dress up as each character we discuss in
our lesson. I will also have these clothing
pieces out for my students to use every
day in the dramatic play area. These
dress-up clothes can be used individually
or with a group of children. Not only are
my students building social-emotional
skills with dramatic play, but they are also
learning how to problem-solve with who
has what role and how they will take
turns using the dress-up clothes, which
falls under the cognitive domain. When
they are speaking and listening during
dramatic play, they are building language
skills. The possibilities are endless when it
comes to a child’s imagination and
creativity.
Play as Curriculum Grant
The Dress for the This Dress for the Weather Bulletin Board
Weather Bulletin Board Set is excellent for my students to learn
Set is recommended for about the changing seasons and different
ages three to six. It is kinds of weather. This set includes 57
from Lakeshore. $14.49 pieces, including a window, the four
seasons, a weather spinner, a “person”,
and clothing pieces. This item is age-
appropriate for my students because they
love to make choices about what they will
be wearing, and they are beginning to be
more independent. They often say, “Do it
myself!” This item is a great way to foster
independence while encouraging them to
make the best choices. This set uses the
social-emotional domain because the
child is learning more about themselves
and what is appropriate in society. When
they begin to dress themselves, they are
enhancing their independence and
decision-making skills.
I will use this in conjunction with a lesson
about the weather and how the seasons
change every year. It will be an excellent
opportunity to engage the whole class, as
they can take turns coming up to the
bulletin board and choosing a piece of
clothing to dress our “person.” My
students will be learning how to work
with others and understand their choices
and opinions as they choose different
pieces of clothing. The children will be
building language skills as they talk about
why they chose specific articles of
clothing to put on the board and the
characteristics of each season. Each class,
we can spend time discussing what an
appropriate outfit would look like for the
weather that day. I will also leave certain
pieces of this item out all year for the
children to use.