WHAT DOES PLAY-FACILITATED EDUCATION
LOOK LIKE?
PLAY WITHIN
THE CLASSROOM
Our Thoughts: The Steps to Understanding PLAY
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Play within the classroom takes many
shapes and sizes. Play within the
classroom can look both calm and
chaotic. However, it is easy to see all
the learning that is occurring. Play can
take different forms for all teachers, it
can be on a spectrum, from highly
structured all the way to completely
student led.
KEY FEATURES OF PLAY
Active Learner
Holistically Child Centered
Hits Key Competencies
Self-Directed
Importance of Imagination
Intrinsically Motivated
It is an Active Form of Education
OUR THOUGHTS
Personally seeing, and engaging in this
form of education, has brought to light
how well it works, and how enjoyable we
are making school for the students. We
have seen an incredible amount of
engagement and success emerge from our
practicum placement.
UNDERSTANDING
PURPOSEFUL PLAY
Purposeful play is engaging students in
activities that bring about joy, for the
intention of educating. Play within the
classroom is highly planned and
thought out to best assist students in
understanding the Alberta Curriculum.
Thus, students who engage in this play
will not only gain the curricular
knowledge, but also knowledge of
social interaction, and how to feel
comfortable with their peers
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE
The Purpose of play within the
classroom is to teach students both
the curriculum, and how to act as kind
and caring individuals. Studies have
shown how vital play is to the
developing brain, and states that
brains that learn in a state of joy, are
more likely to remember that learning
for a lifetime.
THE 12 TYPES OF PLAY
Small Motor
Large Motor
Rough and Tumble
Risk-Taking
Make-Belief
Language
Construction
Mastery
Rule-Based
Arts
Symbolic
Sensory