Building Blocks of Learning

Video of research undertaken at Homerton College Cambridge by Julia Anghileri.

Video is about the use of Poleidoblocs, invented and introduced into play therapy by Margaret Lowenfeld in the 1950s as a way of portraying basic mathematical relationships in a medium attractive to children. Poleidoblocs are designed for children to gain sensual and visual images of the mathematics behind them. They are widely used in schools. The research by Anghileri in this video focuses on the use of poleidoblocs as a potential aid to mathematical teaching; using 3D shapes to stimulate geometric ideas, mathematical thinking and tapping into non-verbal thinking; demonstrating how children can learn quite structured geometrical facts by using play which is suitably designed and supported. Includes footage of Anghileri leading student teachers, children in class rooms using and handling the blocks, interacting with each other and teachers or class room assistants and describing their creations. There is a sequence filmed in the playground with large scale models of poleidoblocs and a sequence showing their use by a parent and child in the home. The school feartured is Debden Village Primary School, Saffron Walden, Essex.

A number of individuals talk to camera including:
Julia Anghileri
Therese Woodcock, Lowenfeld Child Psychologist
Penny Coltman, Senior Researcher
A number of teachers from the school, student teachers and children of the school

There is a graphic sequence in the middle of the video describing the poleidobloc pieces and how children use and learn with them and develop concepts. A continous musical soundtrack plays in the background throughout the film.

2000

1 VHS videocassette (26 mins, 56 secs)

Barcode: 22503563140

The Lowenfeld Trust, Homerton College, CUMIS