From building a memorial garden for a selfish giant to deciding whether to release the big bad wolf, here are some exciting activities for engaging pupils with play.
 |
| What would you do if you captured the big bag wolf? Here are 10 ways to teach your students using play. Photograph: Jim Schulz/A |
The use of play for developing children's learning is a well established feature of most early years settings. Visit a nursery, reception or many year one classrooms and you will find ample opportunities for children to play.
Unfortunately, as children move through school the pressures on teaching the formal aspects of the curriculum take over and play is pushed to the margins. Resource, space and activities for learning through play decline until they almost disappear by the time children reach the end of key stage 2.
While the medium of play for learning isn't disappearing in every school, where it does, there are fewer opportunities for teachers to plan effective lessons, and fewer chances for students to study in diverse and meaningful ways.
The following list of activities are focused on using play as a medium for learning – particularly through drama and imaginative inquiry. Each lesson idea is focused on a particular aspect of learning and links to a planning unit on the Imaginative Inquiry website.
• Exploring ideas, events and attitudes from another person's point of view
The Iceni people of the settlement are faced with a dilemma: hide their Queen (Boudicca) or hand her over to the Roman army.
• Evaluating different choices
The Titanic is beginning to sink and the captain knows there are not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. What is he going to do? His officers wait for their orders.
• Dealing with conflict, making difficult decisions and coping with threats
A team of landscape gardeners are given the job of building a memorial garden for a giant who was once selfish, but died a reformed character. Not everyone in the local community is happy about the plans.
• Looking into authority, power and responsibility
The class has captured a wolf, who has been threatening three little pigs. He is in a cage in the basement of our office and we can see him on our CCTV. What should we do with him? He looks bedraggled and unhappy and we're worried he has a family to feed.
• Researching and applying knowledge
An archaeology team are about to open an ancient Roman security box that has been buried for two thousand years. What will they find inside? Students use classroom resources, topic-books, websites and pre-prepared information sheets to create the contents of the box.
• Building "ethical selves"
A climber is trapped high up on a mountain, she has a broken leg and the weather is getting progressively worse. The mountain rescue team (represented by the students) consider the risks of coming to her aid.
• Civic responsibility
Settlers arrive in a new land and search for a place to build a community. They discuss the best options geographically and decide on a set of rules and how to enforce them. They are faced with many challenges – famine, storms, invaders, wild-animals, illness and disease.
• Developing critical thinking and problem solving
A team of explorers parachute onto an unexplored island. They spend their first night on the beach sleeping in tents and are woken up in the middle of the night by strange and terrifying noises coming from the jungle. What should they do in the morning?
• Understanding processes
Students build a model of an animal park in the classroom and are given various problems they need to resolve in order for the park to work effectively.
• Improving storytelling
A team of storytellers offer to help Queen Scheherazade by creating a new and exciting story each night to entertain her terrifying husband the King of Persia.
Unfortunately, as children move through school the pressures on teaching the formal aspects of the curriculum take over and play is pushed to the margins. Resource, space and activities for learning through play decline until they almost disappear by the time children reach the end of key stage 2.
While the medium of play for learning isn't disappearing in every school, where it does, there are fewer opportunities for teachers to plan effective lessons, and fewer chances for students to study in diverse and meaningful ways.
The following list of activities are focused on using play as a medium for learning – particularly through drama and imaginative inquiry. Each lesson idea is focused on a particular aspect of learning and links to a planning unit on the Imaginative Inquiry website.
• Exploring ideas, events and attitudes from another person's point of view
The Iceni people of the settlement are faced with a dilemma: hide their Queen (Boudicca) or hand her over to the Roman army.
• Evaluating different choices
The Titanic is beginning to sink and the captain knows there are not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. What is he going to do? His officers wait for their orders.
• Dealing with conflict, making difficult decisions and coping with threats
A team of landscape gardeners are given the job of building a memorial garden for a giant who was once selfish, but died a reformed character. Not everyone in the local community is happy about the plans.
• Looking into authority, power and responsibility
The class has captured a wolf, who has been threatening three little pigs. He is in a cage in the basement of our office and we can see him on our CCTV. What should we do with him? He looks bedraggled and unhappy and we're worried he has a family to feed.
• Researching and applying knowledge
An archaeology team are about to open an ancient Roman security box that has been buried for two thousand years. What will they find inside? Students use classroom resources, topic-books, websites and pre-prepared information sheets to create the contents of the box.
• Building "ethical selves"
A climber is trapped high up on a mountain, she has a broken leg and the weather is getting progressively worse. The mountain rescue team (represented by the students) consider the risks of coming to her aid.
• Civic responsibility
Settlers arrive in a new land and search for a place to build a community. They discuss the best options geographically and decide on a set of rules and how to enforce them. They are faced with many challenges – famine, storms, invaders, wild-animals, illness and disease.
• Developing critical thinking and problem solving
A team of explorers parachute onto an unexplored island. They spend their first night on the beach sleeping in tents and are woken up in the middle of the night by strange and terrifying noises coming from the jungle. What should they do in the morning?
• Understanding processes
Students build a model of an animal park in the classroom and are given various problems they need to resolve in order for the park to work effectively.
• Improving storytelling
A team of storytellers offer to help Queen Scheherazade by creating a new and exciting story each night to entertain her terrifying husband the King of Persia.
