EMA1501 ASSIGNMENT 3 PORTFOLIO 2026
DUE OCTOBER 2026
SECTION 1: TYPES OF PLAY AND MATHEMATICS
QUESTION 1.1.1 In the spaces provided below, name and define the type of play
depicted by each picture
According to the EMA1501 Study Guide (UNISA, 2018),
1. EXPLORATORY (HEURISTIC) PLAY
Exploratory play is when children explore the world around them to find out about
objects (UNISA, 2018). For the young child, this means trying to find out what the
possibilities of an object are what can be done with it and what cannot (UNISA, 2018).
Children use all their senses when exploring through play (UNISA, 2018).
The first picture shows children playing with medical equipment (stethoscope,
thermometer, bandages, syringes). They are exploring what these objects are and how
they work, which is a form of exploratory play as described in the study guide (UNISA,
2018).
Fitting objects into shapes, classifying, measurement (small and big) (UNISA, 2018).
,2. PHYSICAL AND LOCOMOTOR PLAY
Physical and locomotor play involves movement in and around the classroom or play
area (UNISA, 2018). Children need lots of opportunities to move around by running,
hopping, skipping, rolling, kicking, and jumping (UNISA, 2018). For this, they need
space, and they cannot get the full benefit of movement indoors (UNISA, 2018).
The second picture shows children riding bicycles, playing soccer, hula hooping, and
doing gymnastics. They are using their bodies to move and explore space, which is
characteristic of physical and locomotor play (UNISA, 2018).
Space, direction, position, counting movements, measurement of distance (UNISA,
2018).
3. CONSTRUCTION PLAY
Construction play involves exploration through constructing, creating, reasoning, and
problem-solving (UNISA, 2018). According to the study guide, listening to a story, a
child may get the idea to construct a house (UNISA, 2018). The child will then explore
what media to use to construct the house, for example building blocks (UNISA, 2018).
: The third picture shows children building with colourful blocks and shapes. They are
creating structures and solving problems about how to make things stand, which is
consistent with construction play (UNISA, 2018).
Shape, space, counting, estimation, balance, patterns (UNISA, 2018).
,4. CREATIVE PLAY
Creativity is an innate characteristic of all children (UNISA, 2018). They will demonstrate
different ways to use material in a creative way, for example by using mud to paint
something brown (UNISA, 2018). They may explore patterns, using different kinds of
materials, such as fruit and shoes, to make a specific pattern (UNISA, 2018).
The fourth picture shows children with painted hands in different colours. They are
being creative with paint and colour, which is an example of creative play as described
in the study guide (UNISA, 2018).
Patterns, colour recognition, shape, spatial orientation (UNISA, 2018).
5. FANTASY PLAY
Young children have vivid imaginations (UNISA, 2018). They imitate and pretend all
sorts of scenarios related to their everyday life experiences (UNISA, 2018). When they
pretend to have a tea party, for instance, they learn valuable mathematical concepts
such as volume and capacity, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and so on (UNISA,
2018). Symbolism (using objects to represent something else) during fantasy play
represents children's first experiences with the representational systems that they will
later use in mathematics (UNISA, 2018).
The fifth picture shows children dressed as archaeologists or explorers with maps and
tools. They are pretending to be on an adventure, which is fantasy play as described by
UNISA (2018).
Volume, capacity, counting, one-to-one correspondence, money (when playing shop),
time (UNISA, 2018).
, 6. WORD PLAY
Through play (all types of play), children learn mathematical vocabulary spontaneously
(UNISA, 2018). Learners talk while they play and ask questions such as: "How many
frog jumps have you done?" (UNISA, 2018). The parent or teacher provides feedback,
which helps them to make sense of, and understand, the mathematical concepts
(UNISA, 2018). There are many math songs, rhymes and verses that will help expand
the children's mathematical vocabulary (UNISA, 2018).
The last picture shows children communicating and working together. They are talking
and sharing ideas during their play, which is word play as described in the study guide
(UNISA, 2018).
Counting words, number names, position words, comparison words (UNISA, 2018).
DUE OCTOBER 2026
SECTION 1: TYPES OF PLAY AND MATHEMATICS
QUESTION 1.1.1 In the spaces provided below, name and define the type of play
depicted by each picture
According to the EMA1501 Study Guide (UNISA, 2018),
1. EXPLORATORY (HEURISTIC) PLAY
Exploratory play is when children explore the world around them to find out about
objects (UNISA, 2018). For the young child, this means trying to find out what the
possibilities of an object are what can be done with it and what cannot (UNISA, 2018).
Children use all their senses when exploring through play (UNISA, 2018).
The first picture shows children playing with medical equipment (stethoscope,
thermometer, bandages, syringes). They are exploring what these objects are and how
they work, which is a form of exploratory play as described in the study guide (UNISA,
2018).
Fitting objects into shapes, classifying, measurement (small and big) (UNISA, 2018).
,2. PHYSICAL AND LOCOMOTOR PLAY
Physical and locomotor play involves movement in and around the classroom or play
area (UNISA, 2018). Children need lots of opportunities to move around by running,
hopping, skipping, rolling, kicking, and jumping (UNISA, 2018). For this, they need
space, and they cannot get the full benefit of movement indoors (UNISA, 2018).
The second picture shows children riding bicycles, playing soccer, hula hooping, and
doing gymnastics. They are using their bodies to move and explore space, which is
characteristic of physical and locomotor play (UNISA, 2018).
Space, direction, position, counting movements, measurement of distance (UNISA,
2018).
3. CONSTRUCTION PLAY
Construction play involves exploration through constructing, creating, reasoning, and
problem-solving (UNISA, 2018). According to the study guide, listening to a story, a
child may get the idea to construct a house (UNISA, 2018). The child will then explore
what media to use to construct the house, for example building blocks (UNISA, 2018).
: The third picture shows children building with colourful blocks and shapes. They are
creating structures and solving problems about how to make things stand, which is
consistent with construction play (UNISA, 2018).
Shape, space, counting, estimation, balance, patterns (UNISA, 2018).
,4. CREATIVE PLAY
Creativity is an innate characteristic of all children (UNISA, 2018). They will demonstrate
different ways to use material in a creative way, for example by using mud to paint
something brown (UNISA, 2018). They may explore patterns, using different kinds of
materials, such as fruit and shoes, to make a specific pattern (UNISA, 2018).
The fourth picture shows children with painted hands in different colours. They are
being creative with paint and colour, which is an example of creative play as described
in the study guide (UNISA, 2018).
Patterns, colour recognition, shape, spatial orientation (UNISA, 2018).
5. FANTASY PLAY
Young children have vivid imaginations (UNISA, 2018). They imitate and pretend all
sorts of scenarios related to their everyday life experiences (UNISA, 2018). When they
pretend to have a tea party, for instance, they learn valuable mathematical concepts
such as volume and capacity, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and so on (UNISA,
2018). Symbolism (using objects to represent something else) during fantasy play
represents children's first experiences with the representational systems that they will
later use in mathematics (UNISA, 2018).
The fifth picture shows children dressed as archaeologists or explorers with maps and
tools. They are pretending to be on an adventure, which is fantasy play as described by
UNISA (2018).
Volume, capacity, counting, one-to-one correspondence, money (when playing shop),
time (UNISA, 2018).
, 6. WORD PLAY
Through play (all types of play), children learn mathematical vocabulary spontaneously
(UNISA, 2018). Learners talk while they play and ask questions such as: "How many
frog jumps have you done?" (UNISA, 2018). The parent or teacher provides feedback,
which helps them to make sense of, and understand, the mathematical concepts
(UNISA, 2018). There are many math songs, rhymes and verses that will help expand
the children's mathematical vocabulary (UNISA, 2018).
The last picture shows children communicating and working together. They are talking
and sharing ideas during their play, which is word play as described in the study guide
(UNISA, 2018).
Counting words, number names, position words, comparison words (UNISA, 2018).
