Midwest Blocks Summit
April 23-24, 2027
Hosted by Families Together Cooperative Nursery School and The Caroline Pratt Institute at Families Together – 1500 W. Elmdale Ave., Chicago
The Midwest Blocks Summit is an immersive, deep dive into Unit Blocks and other open-ended building materials, and their role in preschool through elementary education.
Explore the incredible educational value of wooden unit blocks and other open-ended building materials with fellow preschool and elementary school educators through this 1½ day conference.
Participate in hands-on workshops, observe classroom practices, and collaborate with peers to develop new strategies for integrating blocks-based learning into your teaching. Together, we’ll deepen our understanding of how these timeless tools can spark creativity, critical thinking, and serve as the foundation of academic learning and growth in young learners.
Call for proposals open November 2026
Proposals due December 2026
Registration opens in December 2026
Masters-level teacher and professional musician, Carey Farrell, welcomes children, ages 18 months to 3 years, and their caregivers for a fun-filled hour on Friday mornings at Families Together. Clovers Caregiver & Child Class includes music, art, sensory experiences, gross motor play, and informal parent education on various child development issues.