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The year 20I0 is the 238th anniversary of Friedrich Froebel's birth, yet his spirit and philosophy of teaching are alive in the hearts and minds of 14 Texas early childhood teachers.
In 2006, teacher education students at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), San Antonio, were inspired by Froebel. Wanting to learn more about his educational methods, they planned a trip to Germany to visit sites and institutions where Froebel lived and worked.
The start of their teaching inspiration
At UIW, I (coauthor Moore) teach a course about the history and philosophy of early childhood educators, including Froebel. Many early childhood students read the history of our field and learn that Froebel founded early kindergartens, but UIWs course is far more interactive. As a result of my own research study tour to Germany in 2001, 1 share firsthand experiences regarding Froebel's birthplace and places of work to bring to life for the students the Froebelian maxim, "Play at this time is of deep significance ... [it holds] the germinal leaves of all later life" (Froebel [1826] 1887, 55).
To further their understanding, students in the history/philosophy course design, plan, and implement a Play Day. Applying Froebel's play principles to enthusiastically engage young children, the students prepare outdoor centers and invite children from local schools for a day of spontaneous play, where they build with cardboard blocks, garden in baby pools, and crawl through a maze of recycled boxes. The students' goal is to empower the child through openended activities, which in the words of Froebel give "joy, freedom, contentment, inner and outer rest, peace with the world" (Froebel [1826] 1887, 55).
UIW students also plan a ceremonial birthday party for Froebel, complete with cake, and invite all education students. Creative party activities introduce historical figures in education, including...