Shows teachers how and why they should bring play into the classroom to make learning meaningful, relevant, and fun.
Research studies show that all students - young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural - benefit immensely from classrooms filled with art, creativity, and laughter. Fun, playfulness, creative thinking, and individual expression reinforce positive experiences, which in turn lead to more engaged students, better classroom environments, and successful learning outcomes. Designed for K-12 educators, The Playful Classroom describes how teachers can develop a playful mindset for giving students meaningful, relevant and fun learning experiences. This unique real-world guide provides you with everything you need to incorporate engaging, hands-on lessons and creative activities, regardless of the level and subject you teach.
Building on contemporary and seminal works on learning theory and play pedagogy, the authors explain how to inspire your students by bringing play. into your classroom. This clear, user-friendly guide supplies practical strategies and effective solutions for adding the missing ingredients to your classroom culture. Access to the authors’ companion website provides videos, learning experiences, and downloadable teaching and learning resources. Packed with relatable humor, proven methods, and valuable insights, this book enables you to:
- Provide meaningful experiences that will benefit students both in school and later in life
- Combine the principles of PLAY with traditional curricula to encourage creative learning
- Promote trust, collaboration, and growth in students
- Develop a playful mindset for bringing the arts into every lesson
- Foster critical thinking in any school community
The Playful Classroom: The Power of Play for All Ages is a must-have resource for K-12 educators, higher education professionals, and readers looking for education-based professional development and training resources.
Table of Contents
Foreword xvii
About the Authors xxi
Acknowledgments xxiii
Introduction xxv
In order for the PLAYFUL Classroom to become a reality, there are some foundational beliefs that always matter.
Section 1 The Case for Play
Play designs the future. Trains, planes, and automobiles of today were the kids’ cardboard creations of yesterday.
1 Hey y’all! (yes, all y’all) 3
Defining PLAY 4
2 Play as a Behavior 7
3 Play as a Mindset 11
Imagination 11
Sociability 13
Humor 15
Spontaneity 16
Wonder 18
4 Benefits of PLAY 20
Brain Benefits 20
Academic Benefits 20
Creative Benefits 21
Social Benefits 21
The Playful Mindset 24
5 Excuses 25
Excuse 1: It’s Not Part of My Standards 25
Excuse 2: Administrators Won’t Allow It 29
Excuse 3: I Don’t Have Time 30
Excuse 4: Play Isn’t on “the Test” 32
Excuse 5: Life Isn’t Always Fun 34
6 Reframing PLAY 36
Section 2 Play Inspires Creativity
Creativity Inspires Play
Remember when you needed a tent, but had no tent? You found chairs and blankets and made one. You played and solved a problem through critical thinking using the materials you had.
7 Friday Afternoons and Monday Mornings 45
Taking Risks with a Full Toolbox 46
Creativity is Not the Degree to Which You Can Create Art 47
Lookin’ with Fresh Eyes 48
8 Begin with the Experience 53
Draw Your Own Lines. Insert Your Own Squiggle. 54
9 Variations on Play in the Classroom 56
10 Creativity as Discovery and Invention 60
Careful, Though 62
Authenticity 62
Flow 63
A Question About Flow in Schools 64
11 Make Time for What Matters 65
Intermission: A Story 66
Plan, Do, Review 67
A Creativity Disclaimer 68
Student Choice 68
“Nothing Worth Doing is Easy” 70
12 Finding Balance 71
It’s OK to Not Have All the Answers 72
Failure 73
Play is for All Ages 76
Wrapping It Up 78
Section 3 Play Builds Trust
Trust Builds Opportunities for Play
. . . in ourselves, students, parents, colleagues, and administration.
If we constantly doubt one another’s abilities, motives, judgments, and qualifications, how can we move forward together?
13 Play Builds Trust 83
14 Don’t Sit and Get 85
Benefits of Physical Play 89
Physical Play Improves Our Intellectual Capacity 89
Physical Play Builds Emotional Intelligence 90
Physical Play Helps Us Build Friendships 90
Physical Play Develops Our Moral Character 91
Physical Play Promotes Physical Wellness 91
Physical Play is a Catalyst for Joy 91
15 A Story about Trust 93
16 Administrators Must Trust . . . 101
17 Teachers Can Trust . . . 105
18 Parents Can Trust . . . 112
Newsletters 112
Positive Phone Calls 113
Sneak a Peek 113
Parent Play Days 114
19 Students Already Trust . . . 115
Section 4 Play Builds Relationships
Relationships Are Strengthened Through Play
Our students are humans before they get to us, and they’re still humans when they leave. It will do us well to remember that fact more than their test scores, data, and grades.
20 Our Biological Predilection 119
A Conversation 119
Hunter-Gatherers: We’re More Alike Than You Think 121
A Story About Cats 125
21 The Impact of the GERM 127
22 Love First, Teach Second 130
Confession 133
23 Play Personalities 136
The Joker 138
The Kinesthete 139
The Explorer 140
The Competitor 140
The Director 141
The Collector 141
The Artist/Creator 141
The Storyteller 142
24 The Theme Park Experience 146
Smile 147
Say Their Name 147
Make Others Feel Important - and Do It Sincerely 148
25 Learning with Them, Alongside Them 149
Fire and Brimstone 149
Authenticity 150
The Relationship Epilogue 154
Section 5 Play Builds Community
Communities Are Strengthened When We Play
We live and interact with others - locally, regionally, and globally.
Play helps us shape a mindset of advocacy, awareness, sensitivity, and compassion for all.
26 Relevance and the Four-Legged Stool 157
27 Fostering a Sense of Belonging 163
Bravery Badges 164
28 Getting to Know Students Personally 167
Play Reveals Thinking 169
Play Strengthens Social Skills 170
Play Creates Connections 171
29 Supporting Academic Success 172
Feedback for Growth, Not Grades 174
Scores and Career Goals 178
30 Knowing Students’ Names 181
Greeting Students 182
Nicknames 183
Cheering for One Another 184
31 Creating Interesting and Applicable Lessons 186
32 Beyond the Red School Door 190
33 Across the Country, and Around the World 195
Global School Play Day 195
Global Read Aloud 196
Global Maker Day 197
Section 6 Play Nurtures Growth
Growth Shapes Our Play
We can always be better. Play helps us to grow.
34 The Truth About Success 201
Blubber and a Little Grit 204
35 Encourage a Spirit of Growth 207
36 Your Brain, an Infomercial 211
Your Brain Makes an Oops 212
Wait, So What About Tests? What About Grades? 213
Learning Thresholds? 214
The Power of Our Words 216
37 Creating a Culture of Growth Through Play 217
Modeling Inquiry with a WISH 219
Playful Communication and Collaboration 220
Multiple Playful Paths 220
Accessible Play 223
Playful Curricular Integration 224
The Language of Playful Teaching 225
Play is Valued as a Way to Assess Learning 227
38 A Lesson of Play: Nurturing Growth for an Administrator 230
The Playful Mindset 234
Section 7 Get Out There and Play!
“She could never go back and make some of the details pretty. All she could do was move forward and make the whole beautiful.” - Terri St. Cloud
39 The Playful Mindset 239
The Playful Mindset 240
40 Look for Playful Moments (Awareness) 242
Challenge #1 Bravery Badges 242
Challenge #2: Determine the Play Personality Types in My Class. Use That Information to Invite Comfortable Play for All 243
Challenge #3 Celebrate the Random 246
Challenge #4 Follow and Interact with Playful Educators Online 247
41 Time, Space, Opportunity (Intentionality) 248
Challenge #5 Gather Ye Rosebuds, Errr . . . Tools for Play 248
Challenge #6 Rethink the Rules with Game Adaptations 249
Challenge #7 Take a Walk “Art”side 250
Challenge #8 Musical Chair Mashup 251
42 Play, Mess Up, Learn, Repeat (Process) 252
Challenge #9 Breakout EDU 252
Challenge #10 Play-Doh Elephant Challenge 252
Challenge #11 Card House Challenge 253
Challenge #12 Awesome Squiggles/Virtual Valentines/Gingerbread Communities 254
Gingerbread Communities 254
Awesome Squiggles 254
Virtual Valentine Exchange 255
43 The More We Play, the More Playful We Become (Habit) 256
Challenge #13 Reflect on the Language in Your Classroom 256
Challenge #14 Sculpt and Scoot!!!! 258
Challenge #15 How Did You Play to Learn Today? 258
Challenge #16 Play History Analysis 259
44 Play Makes You Happy. Happy People Play. (Results) 260
Challenge #17 Host a Tiny Art Show 260
Challenge #18 Tape Art Museum 260
Challenge #19 Destination Learning 261
Challenge #20 Make a Mark 261
45 Get Out There and Play 263
Appendix A: Southernisms and Their Meanings 265
Appendix B: The Playful Classroom Teacher’s Reading Guide 271
References 273
Index 277
