For the 4th-year Early Learning Center studio project, my partner and I created a toy inspired by Reggio Emilia practices, encouraging children to explore the properties of shapes beyond just their names. By introducing unconventional shapes—such as stretched polygons maintaining their side count—the toy challenged children to sort and compare these to "perfect" shapes. Testing at the University of Tennessee Early Learning Center revealed diverse engagement: some children focused on precise sorting, others intentionally mismatched shapes, and some invented new ways to play, like crafting glasses from the pieces. The toy fostered creativity and deepened understanding of geometric concepts through playful exploration.
