A unit block is a type of standardized wooden toy block for children. Known also as standard unit blocks or kindergarten blocks, these building blocks are common in preschools and some kindergarten classrooms in the United States.
A unit block is 5.5 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 1.375 inches thick, giving the dimensions a 1:2:4 ratio. Larger pieces include the double (11 inches long) and quadruple (22 inches long) sizes. Smaller sizes are made in various fractions of the standard unit.
Historyedit
Child playing with unit blocks
The unit block principle was popularized by educator Caroline Pratt in the early 1900s.[1] Pratt based her blocks on a similar but larger-scale block system designed by educator Patty Hill, a follower of Friedrich Fröbel, the originator of kindergarten education. Fröbel's series of 20 age-calibrated educational "gifts" had included a set of eight blocks, sized ½ by 1 by 2 inches, or a 1:2:4 ratio, which could be formed into a cube.[2] She founded the City and Country School in 1914 in New York City.[3] In the 1970s, under license from the school, a version of the blocks was sold by a company called Childcraft.
Woodedit
Unit blocks vary in price according to the wood used and the manufacturer. Maple blocks (the original wood put forth by Pratt) are more expensive than birch or beech, which in turn are more expensive than rubberwood.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Unit blocks.
January 01, 1970
unit, block, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2014. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Unit block news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message A unit block is a type of standardized wooden toy block for children Known also as standard unit blocks or kindergarten blocks these building blocks are common in preschools and some kindergarten classrooms in the United States Wooden unit blocks in a wagon Contents 1 Sizes 2 History 3 Wood 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksSizes editA unit block is 5 5 inches long 2 75 inches wide and 1 375 inches thick giving the dimensions a 1 2 4 ratio Larger pieces include the double 11 inches long and quadruple 22 inches long sizes Smaller sizes are made in various fractions of the standard unit History edit nbsp Child playing with unit blocksThe unit block principle was popularized by educator Caroline Pratt in the early 1900s 1 Pratt based her blocks on a similar but larger scale block system designed by educator Patty Hill a follower of Friedrich Frobel the originator of kindergarten education Frobel s series of 20 age calibrated educational gifts had included a set of eight blocks sized by 1 by 2 inches or a 1 2 4 ratio which could be formed into a cube 2 She founded the City and Country School in 1914 in New York City 3 In the 1970s under license from the school a version of the blocks was sold by a company called Childcraft Wood editUnit blocks vary in price according to the wood used and the manufacturer Maple blocks the original wood put forth by Pratt are more expensive than birch or beech which in turn are more expensive than rubberwood See also editFroebel Gifts Montessori sensorial materialsReferences edit communityplaythings com Our History www communityplaythings com Retrieved 2017 06 24 G F The Economist explains How do unit blocks help children learn The Economist The Economist Retrieved 3 December 2015 City and Country School Mission PhilosophyExternal links editCity and Country School List Of Educational Toys nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Unit blocks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Unit block amp oldid 1154894500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
