Play Based Learning

Play based learning.
It's not new.
200 years ago (1817) Frobel opened his first kindergarten.

His aim was to unite school and life, giving children the tools to become “free-thinking, independent people,” free from the whims of fashion, society, and the stifling spirit of the age. Fröbel’s belief was that life and school should not be separate experiences: “School and life should become one!” Such ideas led him to create the first kindergarten, or “garden for children.”
FRÖBEL DAY – TWO HUNDRED YEARS IN KEILHAU, GERMANY

It's through play that we learn best. When something is interesting & relevant, we learn. When we are actively involved with something, we learn. When we create something new, we learn. By working with others we learn - a lot - about other people. We learn to communicate, problem solve and to wonder.

Children learn through play. There are times for unstructured, self-chosen play and there are times for the teacher to come together with a group or the class for some learning time together, that, if presented in a playful way, engages children in learning.

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Tape Man

Some of the children put blue tape over their mouth. Usually I would have said something like, "Take the tape off your mouth. It's not for putting on your mouth." Instead I thought of Tape Man (with some pride, being from New Zealand). I thought of creativity. I thought of art. So we sat together for whole group time, some with tape on their mouth. I said, "I've got something to show you." When they first say him one of them said, "It's scary." I reassured them that it's not too scary and that he's being funny. So they started to laugh. Pretty soon there was no more tape on mouths (not that I minded if there was, it's just hard to laugh). Thank you Tape Man for reminding us that creativity begins with exploration in play.

Changing Spaces

The blocks were in tubs on the shelf in the center of the room. It was time for a change, so the blocks were put onto the shelf by the OHP, providing a more enclosed space for the children to build with the blocks. One of the children spent time building a structure. After he has finished, he was able to leave it there for a while, and later in the day he was able to put the blocks back on the shelf where he had found them. Changing spaces creates new opportunities.

Pouring Skills

We'd finished adding vinegar to baking soda and watched it froth up over the sides of a tiny glass jar. After we'd finished, the children played with the mixture. One of the boys found a funnel to help him pour. They were given one rule: pour over a tray. The rule was only broken a couple of times.

NZ Teacher

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