ABSTRACT
In our adventure in constructive free play and STEAM, Chapter 5 considers the role of constructive free play as it relates to science and mathematics. After the introduction, we trek into the role of fantasy and how it can help us understand young children’s emergent scientific and mathematical propensities. In this section, we also explore how constructive free play enables self-regulation and creativity. We will then analyze the specific case of Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winning physicist reflecting on his early, youthful playful experiences and how these experiences may have contributed to his love of science. This case then leads us into the importance of language and STEAM through the observation of constructive free play. Toward the end of the chapter, our goal is to provide evidence that supports scientific, mathematical, and technological growth mindsets.
