EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE
Engaging young learners in STEAM is easier than you think! Our Early Learning Challenge Experience for preschool through second-grade children teaches basic STEAM principles and is rooted in curiosity, inquiry, and play.
Our Early Learning Team Challenges are designed to teach the creative process, a system of learning that is at the root of innovation and a child's ability to bring an idea to life. Destination Imagination Challenges are open-ended, allowing teams to express themselves creatively and take full ownership of their solutions. Teams work together for several weeks or months on their solution, and then present it at a DI tournament for feedback, kudos, and standing ovations!
Early Learning teams get to participate in both a Team Challenge and an Instant Challenge, right alongside the "big kids" helping them develop confidence and creativity at an early age.
THE EARLY LEARNING TEAM
A team is a group of usually between 2 and 10 members in preschool through 2nd grade that work together to develop a solution to the Early Learning Team Challenge.
While there is no limit to the number of team members on an Early Learners team, smaller teams of 5-10 team members will be much more manageable for the Adult Leader.
THE TEAM MANAGER
The Team Manager (TM) is an adult (often a parent or teacher) who teaches the creative process and helps keep the team on track but does not assist or interfere with the team's solution. Team Managers get access to valuable resources to help them along the way. A Team Manager Roadmap as well as a catalog of online learning modules are provided that they can access at their own pace.
Wisconsin DI also offers virtual training (and, in some areas, in-person training) for Team Managers.
TEAM SUPPORT & PARENTS
Parents and other family members can stay involved with teams by supporting their Team Managers. Teaching team members new skills, helping to find supplies, or even providing a snack are a few of the ways parents can help out. They can also volunteer to help out at local tournaments.
EARLY LEARNING APPRAISERS
Early Learning Appraisers get to witness the teams present their solution to the Challenge in a tournament setting offering positive feedback and giving applause and cheers for a job well done!
Appraisers are trained on the Challenge and tournament procedures with a minimal time commitment.
THE CHALLENGE SEASON
Teams typically form between August and January and spend 2 to 6 months developing their Team Challenge Solutions. Each season is aligned with the academic calendar. The Challenge is noncompetitive, which helps ease pressure and lets kids play and experiment with their solutions. At a local tournament, teams perform their solutions.
They also will have the opportunity to solve a quick-thinking and quick-creating Instant Challenge. The team will not know what this Challenge is until they show up. Both the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge are presented for feedback, kudos, and standing ovations - no scores will be given.
If you would like more information about the Early Learning Challenge Experience, please contact WIDI today!