Six Bricks Australia
An innovative play pedagogy that builds pupil skills
Six Bricks Australia is super excited to be introducing you to Six Bricks, an internationally recognised methodology for teaching a variety of subjects that support the learning and development of young children.
What is Six Bricks?
Six Bricks is just that: 6 LEGO® Duplo® bricks in bright colours that utilise the power of play to complete fun, short, playful activities and games.
There are thousands of ways to use Six Bricks. They are inexpensive, durable, recognisable and versatile.
The Six Bricks Methodology is an educational approach that emphasises hands-on, experiential learning. Children are encouraged to use the bricks to problem-solve and explore concepts like shapes, colours, numbers and patterns through play. Six Bricks activities support various aspects of child development, including cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills.
Six Bricks began with a focus on education in South Africa and was launched in 2013 as a collaborative effort between the Care For Education organisation in South Africa and the LEGO® Foundation. Building on the LEGO® Foundation's extensive research on the benefits of learning through play, this initiative aimed to provide accessible and cost-effective resources for educators and schools. The result was a set of play-based activities and resources that are simple and open-ended, designed to support children's holistic development and make high-quality education more accessible.
What is this course?
This 5.5-hour course is delivered in Australia by Six Bricks Australia in collaboration with the professional development team at CPD College Ireland, all in association with Care for Education South Africa and The LEGO® Foundation.
This course can be completed as NESA-accredited hours for NSW school teachers, non-accredited professional development or for general interest.
This international online Six Bricks course is presented by John Sharpson, an early childhood educator and TV presenter of children's programs. The course includes notes and short demonstration videos, including practice activities.
Six Bricks is the new ‘wonder resource’ in education and is coming to schools worldwide. Click 'play' below for a brief course overview from John.
What you will learn?
Through participating in this online Six Bricks course, you will:
- Learn a variety of play techniques and activities to teach mathematics
- Learn to use Six Bricks with the resources provided that support mathematics learning through play. These resources are linked to the NSW Mathematics syllabus for early stage 1 and stage 1
- Explore the research around types of play, the characteristics of playful learning developmental skills learned during play, planning play with a purpose, brain function and the benefits of play to encourage and support meaningful play implementation in different environments
- For early childhood educators, you will gain a deep understanding of the new mathematics syllabus content and implementation (as outlined in the NSW Mathematics Syllabus K10. Early stage 1 and stage 1).
Who is this course for?
Primary school teachers, preschool teachers, early child educators, early childhood learning centre workers, teachers aids, disability workers, special needs teachers, parents, caregivers, specialist educators or anyone interested in using manipulatives to support learning.
What do you receive?
Once you enrol, you will receive a Six Bricks materials pack delivered to wherever you live in Australia.
Click here to see what’s in your Six Bricks materials pack.
Participants who complete this 5.5-hour online course will receive a Level 1 and 2 Mathematics – Six Bricks Professional Practitioner Certificate. You can see a sample certificate to view on the home page.
Once completed, you will also be invited to the Six Bricks Australia Facebook page.
What’s the process?
It’s simple!
- Click the Enrol button above and follow the instructions. You will need to create a new account by completing the form provided. NOTE: You must provide your NESA number if you use this course for accreditation as a NSW teacher.
- Once enrolled, you will be sent your Six Bricks materials pack
- Work through the modules at your own pace
- You will be required to submit short assessment activities and complete forum participation to meet the course requirements
How much time do I have to complete my course?
You can access your course at any time and have three months to complete it.
What standards does this course cover (NSW teachers only)?
2.1.2 and 3.3.2
General information
Within this interactive online course, you can interact with other course participants through the in-course chat forum and communication tools provided by the CPD College learning system.
Our friendly and knowledgeable trainers actively support each course, providing expert interaction, guidance and feedback for all participants on chat questions and assignments, which call for critical reflection, self-analysis and a reasoned response.
On successful completion of your course, you can download and print your:
● Learning record
● Level 1 and 2 Mathematics - Six Bricks Professional Practitioner Certificate.
We can’t wait to see you on the course.
- Improve and sustain teaching and learning through play-based learning
- Ensure participants understand, appreciate and deploy a ‘Learning through Play’ methodology to different environments
- Explore concepts and build skills through play and Six Bricks
- Inspire the use of manipulatives for playful facilitation with the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach to Mathematics
- Provide participants with the tools and support to confidently innovate and implement new approaches to teaching mathematics
- Have a positive influence on learner academic achievement by enhancing lifelong learning skills for all learners using the Six Bricks principles, practices and pedagogy
- Provide participants with the skills to enhance children's physical, social, emotional, literacy and mathematical development
- Develop the required skills of the future through practising working collaboratively and creatively whilst communicating clearly and thinking critically with Six Bricks.
| 01 - Introduction to Six Bricks: We begin with the evolution of Six Bricks as a manipulative in re-imagining learning, whereby we can utilise Six Bricks as a key learning through play pedagogy in early mathematical learning. A selection of effective and engaging Six Bricks approaches and activities are provided. We introduce, develop and apply the Six Bricks Answer Code (SBAC) and detail how teachers can create their own daily ‘ignition cognition’ ® exercises to reinforce and test content knowledge. |
| 02 - Basic mathematical activities: We continue to explore key elements and messages of the learning through play pedagogy in primary school. We proceed to look at Six Bricks and their application at a basic level within the mathematics curriculum. |
| 03 - Applying Six Bricks to mathematical concepts: We continue to explore key elements and messages of the learning through play pedagogy in primary school. Our primary focus is developing perceptual skills and using manipulatives & the CPA approach to achieve better learner outcomes in mathematics. |
| 04 - Additional mathematical activities: We explore additional Six Bricks mathematical activities before moving onto a narration through each of the ‘Movement Mats’ to build spatial, memory and maths skills. The learning through play pedagogy is revisited through various movement and mathematical language activities. |