What Is A Schema?

Did you know that schemas are repeated patterns of play to allow the children to make sense of the world. In this booklet we will be looking at the different schemas, how to identify them and how to select appropriate resources to use within your environments, to enhance the children’s learning.

“ Schemas are patterns of linked behaviour which the child can generalise and use in a whole variety of different situations. It is best to think of schemas as being clusters of pieces which fit together.“ Tina Bruce

“ Step back, wait, watch and wonder."

As mindful educators our role is to observe, recognise and understand the patterns of behaviour that our children are showing, but this can also be done at home.

While your child is playing at home, observe the patterns that appear in their play.

Does your child like to throw things?

Cover themselves in paint or other materials?

Does your child like to empty boxes or move things around?

Have you ever thought that this might be because of a learning behaviour and not them “being naughty“

How to Recognise Schemas

Orientation

Orientation is the urge to hang upside, down look under the table or appear over the top of the counter.

Positioning

Positioning is when a child can be seen playing by lining up their toys. Children will explore new creative orders to position their toys in.

Connection

This schema is centred on the building and destruction of toys or objects. From blocks to sand castles, anything that can be made, can also be destroyed

Trajectory

Trajectory focuses on the urge to throw and catch. Any movement that moves up and down is of interest to children who are displaying the schema

Transporting

This schema is recognised when children move something from one place to another, for example pouring one container of water into another.

Enveloping

Enveloping is one of the most enjoyable schemas and also one that usually presents itself quite early. This involves hiding behind materials and popping back out.

Rotation

Children displaying this schema love to spin round and round and can often be found showing an interest in anything with wheels.

Transformation

Transformation is the urge to create something new from a range of materials. This includes tasks like baking.

Enclosure

Children displaying the schema love to hide in tunnels, Under blankets and can often be found trying to fit objects into small spaces.

What resources could you use as a part of your invitations to learning at home?

Trajectory
Items to throw such as balls, bean bags etc. Watching things roll- use drain pipes or cardboard tubing to roll things down, or push cars down

Rotation

Use resources that so round or spin. Children often like looking at car wheels go round, or playing with water wheels in the bath etc

Orientation

Opportunities to climb and swing. What can you offer in your garden or visits to the local park and play area.

Enclosure
Children like to sit inside things such as tents, or teepees. You could make dens too. Keep large boxes for them to inside of. Have blankets for them to wrap themselves in.

Transforming
Cooking activities are great for transforming children. Other activities such as junk modelling - where they can design and create

Connection

Things that connect together such as Lego, or exploring with magnets. Teach them how to use glue, sellotape and masking tape so they can connect objects together

Envelopment

Children like to put things inside things- have plastic sweet jars and loose parts, envelopes, wrapping paper to wrap things up.

Transporting

Using things like empty bags, trollies, or dolls prams - provide items that they can carry around or transport.

Positioning

Provide resources that your child can place in certain orders such as loose parts, wooden blocks, jigsaws etc.