“Play nourishes every aspect of children’s development-it forms the foundation of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills necessary for success in school and in life.” 

 Canadian Council on Learning

The importance of play

Learning in Centres

When you introduce play as a means of learning in school, as educator, your role changes from instructor to facilitator.  As a facilitator, the teacher guides the learning which is different than controlling the learning. This is not a new idea. In fact, the teacher as facilitator is at the heart of the inquiry method promoted by Dewey half a century ago.

Child-Guided Experiences + Adult-Guided Experiences = Optimal Learning

As you think about your own role as a facilitator in the play-based learning in your classroom, have a look at the continuum from child to educator focused play in the classroom.

Learning at Home

The fall is a good time to get families involved to support children at home. For a listing of recommendations that will allow families to focus on learning areas see the attached Appendix.

Have a look at some of the following clippings from Primarily Play, and see what play can bring to your classroom!

Take a position on play

• Why Play
• The Importance of Play
• A New Look at Play

What is Play?

• What is Play? – Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
  Brochure – Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
• Authentic Play
• Exploratory Play
• Pretend Play
• Games with Rules
• Points to Keep in Mind about Play and Learning

Making it happen in your classroom

• Facilitating learning through play
• Pump Priming
• Informed Participant

Getting started with play

• Where to begin?
• Independent Inquiry in the Primary Grades
• Setting up Learning Centres for Inquiry
• Introducing Independent Inquiry
• Documenting Learning Through Play
• Making use of Documentation
• Beginning with Play-Based Learning
• Parents: Partners in Learning Through Play

Playing is Learning

• Play or Worksheets? – Dr. Rachel Langford on the importance of play
• Teaching and Learning in the Kindergarten Classroom – ETFO
• Play and Conditions of Learning
• Classroom Practices that Support and Extend Play
• Planning for Play in the Kindergarten Classroom
• Choosing Materials for Play
• Playing is Learning Pamphlet
• Learning Through Play – The Research Connection
• Play Makes Program Unique – ETFO Voice article, October 2010
• It’s Child’s Play – ETFO Voice article, February 2008
• Videos: Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Jill Worthy discuss early learning