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< Back Supporting Learning through Play with Six Bricks in Gauteng Jessica Winter 07 Dec 2023 This report will explore the experiences of teachers during these classroom observations, report on teacher reflections, and make suggestions to address challenges and bolster the support and integration of LtP using Six Bricks. Each district and its unique circumstances will be considered in its own section. This report describes observations from a series of school and classroom visits and reflects on discussions with teachers in these schools in Gauteng from July to September 2023. Supporting Learning through Play using Six Bricks in Gauteng .pdf Download PDF • 2.65MB Previous Next

Kelly Hutcheson: The Global Play Rebellion Rooted in Six Bricks At Care for Education, we’ve always believed in the profound power of play. Few embody this belief with more fierce dedication and transformative insight than Kelly Hutcheson. Her journey with us, particularly alongside her father, Brent Hutcheson, in the development and global dissemination of the Six Bricks methodology, was the forging of a revolutionary new approach in education and parenting. Today, Kelly Hutcheson continues to champion a radical rethinking of childhood, education, and parenting, and her foundations were solidified here, amidst the colorful potential of six simple bricks. From "Problem Child" to Play-Driven Pioneer Kelly’s mission is deeply personal. Growing up navigating the challenges of dyslexia within traditional education systems, she was often labeled the "problem child." It was a label that could have defined her, confined her. But in her home, a different story was being written… one where play-based learning became the key that unlocked a world of understanding and unique capability. Her perceived "disruptions" were recognized as creative breakthroughs, her "struggles" as the forging of unique problem-solving pathways. This personal transformation became a shared vision. Witnessing the profound impact of this approach, her father, Brent Hutcheson, a foundational innovator at Care for Education, developed Six Bricks . What began as an intuitive response to one child’s needs blossomed, with the support of entities like the LEGO Foundation, into a global movement. Kelly was at the heart of this, translating personal experience into actionable, international training, playing a pivotal role in bringing Six Bricks to educators and children in diverse countries like Ireland, China, Germany, Egypt, the US, and Ukraine. Challenging the Death of Genius Kelly Hutcheson’s work with Six Bricks and Care for Education laid the groundwork for a broader, more urgent calling: to challenge the very foundations of systems that, in her words, often contribute to The Death of Genius . She argues that our current educational and parenting paradigms, obsessed with conformity and control, are systematically stifling the innate brilliance within every child . She believes children don’t need more instruction, just more freedom. Less top-down control, more intrinsic curiosity. Less relentless scheduling, more space for the kind of productive struggle that builds true confidence. For Kelly Hutcheson, The Secret to Smarter Kids isn't found in accelerated academics or a pile of educational toys, but in nurturing their natural ability to learn through play, to question fearlessly, and to trust their own minds. Her philosophy is a direct challenge: "You say you want independence but you interrupt every attempt at it. You say you value empathy but model emotional reactivity and call it “protection.”... We are raising children to be obedient machines in a system that is emotionally bankrupt and then we wonder why they don’t know how to care. Empathy is dying. Because our children have never seen it lived." This is about questioning the deep-seated fears and societal pressures that lead to over-parenting and restrictive educational environments. From Denmark's Innovation to Diverse Curricula Kelly Hutcheson’s commitment to this vision is backed by extensive, hands-on international experience. Her journey has taken her from facilitating Six Bricks training globally with Care for Education to: Greengates International School, Mexico Nova Pioneer, South Africa Sandton Junior Colleges, South Africa International School of Billund (ISB), Denmark This diverse exposure, coupled with degrees in Early Childhood Development and Learning Support from the University of Pretoria, and research on international reading programs at Harvard University (focusing on the Tools of the Mind Curriculum), has given her a unique understanding of how children learn best across various cultural and systemic contexts. Her expertise also extends to Special Needs education, ensuring her approach is inclusive and adaptable. She has also served as a World LEGO Robotics Competition Judge, underscoring her connection to playful innovation. The Play Alchemist & Free the Child The fire ignited during her time with Care for Education and the global Six Bricks movement now burns brighter with The Play Alchemist . Through this platform, Kelly offers parents and educators a new paradigm, tools, and the fierce conviction needed to transform homes and classrooms into laboratories of creativity, critical thinking, and authentic self-discovery. This philosophy, this urgent call to action, has culminated in her provocative book, Free the Child . It’s a direct, often uncomfortable, but ultimately liberating guide for parents ready to dismantle fear-based habits, step back from over-intervention, and cultivate true resilience and independence in their children. Free the Child is a manifesto for a new generation of parenting. Kelly Hutcheson is a catalyst for change, deeply connected to the Care for Education family and the legacy of Six Bricks, now taking those foundational principles to challenge and inspire a global audience. Her message is clear: if you're ready to question everything, to embrace discomfort for the sake of profound growth, and to truly free your child, Kelly Hutcheson is leading the charge.

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Want to get in touch? We would love to hear from you. Contact Us Meet the Team FAQs Privacy Policy Get in touch You can reach us through the below details... Our Address Unit 12, Meadowbrook Business Estate Jacaranda Avenue, Olivedale, 2158 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Talk to us Contact Number - 011 462 2581 Email - cfe@carefored.co.za Follow us below Click location pin Six Bricks Online Course Help Centre Find out how we can help you below Incorrect details on your certificate? Send us an email with your user account information: Username Email Address Province District Email Can't login to the FPI online course? Send us an email with your user account information: Username Email Address Province District Email To register your user account, click the following: link To reset your password, click the following: link Please note: After you complete a unit on the online course, don’t forget to mark it off as “complete” - this is mandatory There will be a button on the bottom of each and every page to do this. Remember that if you don’t do this it will be difficult for you to download your certificate. There are quizzes throughout the online course that have to be completed as you move through the course. Once you reach the last section of the course, you will have to complete the final quiz. Once you pass the Final Quiz with 80% or more, your certificate will become available for you to download. This video shows you how to register for FPI Online Course If you can't find what you are looking for, email us at cfe@carefored.co.za or call us on 011 462 2581 . Meet the Care for Education Team

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Learn more about our impact in the work we have done through collaboration and partnerships. Foundation Phase Initiative Total Reach Robotics The Foundation Phase Initiative (FPI) stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts with key partners; the Department of Basic Education (DBE), UNICEF, CFE and the LEGO Foundation. At the core of FPI implementation is a dedicated focus on enriching the South African CAPS curriculum and transforming pedagogies to seamlessly integrate play-based approaches into teaching and learning. The key instrument for this nationwide initiative is the Six Bricks tool. 2019-2024 Reach Three provinces completed by start of 2024 (including 20-30% of the other 6 provinces). 2 557 119 Children Reached 61 699 Teachers Trained 7 144 Schools Supported Having successfully completed rollouts in three provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Free State) the FPI project consistently promotes and nurtures a learning through play (LtP) mindset. Over the past five years, on-site visits and data collection have revealed concrete evidence of a transformative shift in teachers' perspectives. This shift indicates positive growth towards enhancing the overall quality of teaching. Teachers have commented on LtP using Six Bricks, highlighting benefits such as hands-on learning and increased learner engagement and showcasing creativity by integrating tailored activities into their teaching methodologies. FPI Completion Status Number of schools reached Gauteng - 1589 Free State - 1183 Eastern Cape - 4332 Limpopo - 40 Number of teachers trained Gauteng - 20 548 Free State - 5703 Eastern Cape - 20 328 Limpopo - 1368 UNICEF are using Class Act to assist them with training and are hoping to complete at least 20-30% of the other 6 provinces by the end of 2024. Outreach Robotics Care for Education’s robotics outreach began with the launch of the first afterschool robotics centres in Atteridgeville. Additional centres were established in other townships as interest grew. Thanks to support from the Association of STEMI Olympiads and Competitions (ASTEMI), the LEGO Foundation, Trim Tab Foundation and other sponsors, underserved children across South Africa have had the chance to experience the transformative power of robotics. The programme extends to a number of areas around South Africa, many in very remote areas: Graaff Reinet, Grahamstown, Knysna, Hermanus, and Caledon, Cofimvaba and Vredendal, to name a few. Township Robotics In 2012, Care for Education started Township Robotics in the Atteridgeville township, training and mentoring over 200 Grade 6 & 7 learners for weekly 2-hour sessions. There was a focus on empowering young girls from the community. Starting with just 5 centres, the initiative quickly gained momentum, culminating in the inaugural Township Robotics competition in 2013, at the Atteridgeville Community Hall. This competition, held ahead of the national World Robot Olympiad (WRO), serves as a qualifier for learners to advance to the national event. Since then, we've hosted 9 Township Robotics competitions, with only 2020 and 2021 being affected by COVID-19. Teams compete for the chance to represent South Africa at the international finals, with aspirations of making it big on the global stage. World Robot Olympiad CFE serves as the custodian of the World Robot Olympiad™ in South Africa. WRO is a truly global robotics competition dedicated to science, technology and education. Their mission is to help young people develop creativity and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way. They do this by organizing robotics competitions in four different categories for students aged 8-19 years. We have team members who act as judges at both national and provincial events. Moreover, South Africa boasts a considerable count of International WRO Judges. 2008 - 2023 Reach The number of boxes and sets received from the LEGO Foundation : 49 656 DUPLO Play Boxes 9 532 LEGO Play Boxes 2 384 510 Sets of Six Bricks The number of children and teachers reached : 116 494 Teachers trained 4 452 945 Children impacted

Start using our Six Bricks Templates in your lessons to make your teaching fun. Templates Templates Board Games Workshop cards Six Bricks Board Game Six Bricks Seega Game Six Bricks Uthini Game Number Games Cartesian Plane First2Four - Number Bingo & Rules First2Four - Number Bingo First2Four - Negative Numbers Rules First2Four - Negative Numbers Rules (1-2) First2Four - Negative Numbers Rules (2-1) Number Cards Pattern Cards 3D Builds Pattern Cards Colour Pattern Cards - No colour with spaces silhouette Pattern Cards - No colour with spaces Grids Grid - 5x4 Labels Grid - 5x5 Labels Grid - 6x8 Labels Grid - 6x8 Template Communication Activities Template Bar Graph - 4x5 Temp - Fruit Theme Bar Graph - 5x7 Temp - Fruit Theme Bar Graph - 5x7 Temp - Transport Theme Template for Fractions Templates for Six Bricks

CAPS-Aligned Activities Note: Our CAPS-Aligned Weekly Activities are created for South African Foundation Phase teachers . Try these fun weekly activities suited for Grade R to Grade 3. • Aligned with CAPS & DBE Workbooks (blue books) • Term & week specific Term 3 Term 2 Term 1 Each activity is tailored to specific terms and weeks, making lesson planning easier for teachers while keeping young learners excited and engaged.

Unlock the power of playful learning with our workshops and courses, designed to revolutionize your teaching approach! Our expert-led workshops offer practical tools and strategies to help you foster curiosity, spark imagination, and promote a love for learning in children of all ages. Workshops View our workshops below and click the button of the workshop you are interested in to start transforming your teaching into an exciting, playful adventure! Learning through Play ECD ECD Join our hands-on workshop to discover creative ways to bring Learning Through Play into your program, with fun activities and laughter, all aligned with the National Curriculum Framework! LSEN Workshop: LSEN Bring learning to life! This hands-on workshop explores playful interventions and practical strategies to support learners with special needs through Learning Through Play. Specialised Workshop: Special Custom-crafted workshops with a playful twist! Perfect for teams, big organisations, and focused projects. Got a fun idea? Let’s bring it to life together! Facilitator Course: Facilitator Dive into a 4-day Learning Through Play adventure in the heart of South Africa! This workshop is for people involved in the facilitation space. Therapist Workshop: Therapist A 2-day HPCSA-accredited workshop for therapists and healthcare pros! Add a playful touch to your practice with hands-on skills you can use right away. Six Bricks Workshop: Six Bricks This workshop is for teachers and practitioners who have access to the Six Bricks tool and want to discover playful ways of teaching and learning using Six Bricks. FPI Online Course: This course introduces you to play-based learning & how to integrate it in foundation phase. Suitable for teachers FPI Whether you're a teacher, educator, or caregiver, our courses will empower you to create engaging, fun-filled environments that fuel creativity and enhance educational outcomes. HOME

Book For SIx Bricks Book For DUPLO Play and learn

Get help if you are experiencing issues with the Foundation Phase Initiative Online Course. Foundation Phase Initiative Online Course Help Centre How can we help you? Incorrect details on your certificate? Send us an email with your FPI user account information: Username Email Address Province District Send Email Can't login to the FPI online course? Send us an email with your FPI user account information: Username Email Addr ess Province District Send Email To register your user account, click the following: link To reset your password, click the following: link Please note: After you complete a unit on the online course, don’t forget to mark it off as “complete” - this is mandatory There will be a button on the bottom of each and every page to do this. Remember that if you don’t do this it will be difficult for you to download your certificate. There are quizzes throughout the online course that have to be completed as you move through the course. Once you reach the last section of the course, you will have to complete the final quiz. Once you pass the Final Quiz with 80% or more, your certificate will become available for you to download. You can do this as many times as needed. This video shows you how to register for FPI Online Course If you can't find what you are looking for, email us at cfe@carefored.co.za or call us on 011 462 2581 . Please Like the FPI Community Facebook page below to share ideas and see what other teachers are doing with Six Bricks in their classroom.