Successfully integrating playful learning into teaching involves creating an environment where both teachers and children can engage with content in an interactive, enjoyable and hands-on way. Here are some of the approaches I have been exploring with my senior classes.
Playful learning thrives in an atmosphere where children feel safe to explore and engage without fear of failure.
The most important place to start is by creating a positive and playful atmosphere. Foster a classroom environment where risk-taking, experimentation and mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth.
Personally, I look to use educational games, role-playing or simulations that align with the learning objectives. As teachers, we can often turn complex concepts into board games, interactive quizzes or real-world simulations to make the material more relatable and fun. For example, a playful history lesson could involve a role-playing activity where the children act as historical figures, debating decisions and exploring different perspectives.
Giving the children more autonomy
Don’t underestimate the ability of older children to contribute their own ideas?
Share the objectives and outcomes to be met but be as open as possible to their ideas about approaches. Learner autonomy and sharing responsibility for outcomes are keys to effective play based learning.
I provide the topic but will allow the children to produce their project in whatever form they chose to – the results always astound me!
Embrace project-based learning with a creative twist. This is something I am a huge advocate of, especially in senior classes of primary school as it allows children to work on the assigned task but self-differentiated to their own abilities and learning styles. I find this enables better accessibility to the content and learning outcomes.
Allow the class to choose projects that encourage creativity and problem-solving. Instead of traditional research papers, try to offer more open-ended projects where children design models, create videos, build prototypes or develop other forms of media as responses.
Trigger their curiosity
Curiosity is a natural human inclination, essential for learning. It’s the desire to explore, question, and discover new knowledge and experiences.
Foster a mindset of curiosity by allowing children time to explore topics that interest them. For example, if studying life cycles of animals or plants, rather than provide the class with just one planned example, allow them to find an animal or plant of their own to study and have them share what they find with the class.
I try to provide open-ended questions or challenges that require creative thinking, allowing the children to pursue their own learning paths. I encourage them to create their own questions around a topic, then work collaboratively to research and answer them through different formats, like skits or presentations.
Digital tools have a useful place
Integrate technology tools that promote playful learning, such as educational apps, digital storytelling, virtual field trips or interactive whiteboards. These tools engage children in new, dynamic ways.
Use apps like Kahoot! or Quizizz for interactive quizzes or use coding platforms to allow students to create their own games as a learning activity. Explore the world and natural environments and features in hands on tools like Google Earth.
Incorporate art and movement
Combine kinaesthetic learning with content delivery. Have children move, draw, build or act out concepts. Using art, drama or dance can help bring abstract ideas to life in memorable ways.
For example, in a maths class, the children could ‘act out’ different types of angles or geometric shapes or make them with their bodies in groups rather than simply drawing and labelling them. They might create a mural that represents key themes in a literature unit.
Reflect and celebrate progress
I find it is important to allow time for children to reflect on their playful learning experiences. Encourage them to share what they’ve learned in creative ways, like through a digital portfolio, group discussion or class presentation.
After completing a project or game, have the children present their process, challenges and discoveries, fostering a reflective conversation about how play helped them learn.
Embrace flexibility.
Some of the best lessons I have taught have gone off plan!
Be open to adjusting your plans as you see how the children in your class engage with playful activities. Flexibility allows the play to evolve naturally based on student interests and energy. If a particular activity sparks excitement and deep engagement, extend it or modify it for further exploration.
My final thoughts
By thoughtfully integrating playful learning strategies into our teaching, I believe we can transform the learning process into an enjoyable, motivating and deeply effective experience. By nurturing creativity, critical thinking and collaboration we can provides an engaging and motivating learning experience for children of all ages, abilities and learning styles.
In the words of Fred Rogers…
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning”.
More reflections on play centred learning from Gillian:
https://www.instagram.com/the_glitter_and_coffee_teacher
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