Gifts
The entire series of materials have been numbered 1 through 20, and are divided into two categories: Gifts and Occupations. Materials 1 through 10 are referred to as Gifts. These are not "destroyed" when used, but returned to their original state and stored in the boxes. Conceptually, Gifts 1 to 6 can be thought to represent solids (3-D), Gift 7 to represent surface (2-D), Gift 8 to represent line, Gift 9 to represent point, and Gift 10 to represent point and line. They represent a logical progression from the whole (unity) into parts (complexity) and a return to the whole. This idea of starting with the whole and moving out into the complexity of the parts is an important part of Froebel's philosophy.
A child never completes or is finished with a Gift, he/she just becomes ready for a different Gift. Because children bring their own experiences to Gift Play, the same Gift can be used for as long as three or four weeks at a time, interspersed with play using different Gifts. A child will never exhaust all the possibilities of a Gift and each may be returned to at any time.
Occupations
Materials 11 through 20 have been called Occupations. These can be thought of as complementary crafts such as sewing, origami, and modeling clay, which one would not return to its original form. The use of the word Occupations for these crafts emphasizes the connection between abstract play (art/knowledge) and the useful work of everyday life.
|
|
