Foundation Degree

Level 5

Lesson 1

Play and Recreation

Lecturer: Laura Griffiths

Introduction:

My Name: Laura Griffiths

Email Address: laura.griffiths@coleggwent.ac.uk

Learning Outcomes

Theories of play

The changing Nature of Play

The planning of purposeful play

Assessment for this Unit:

3000 word essay

Detailing how play and recreational activities can enrich the lives of children or young people.

Lesson Aim:

To gain an understanding of how children’s play is supported and information regarding children’s play and theories of children's play.

Lesson Objectives: By the end of this session you

should be able to…

Identify relevant legislation

Recognise early years pioneers / theories

What is play?

What is play?

“Children play everyday. Play is now seen as being crucial to the development of the child – it is through play that children learn many things about the world around them”.

(Tassoni and Hucker, 2000 p. 1)

What is out there to support

children’s play?

Undertake independent research and share your findings with the group.

What did you find

out?

What is the value of

play?

What is the value of play?

Since the beginning of the 19th century pioneers of early years education have developed arguments regarding the value of children’s play, learning and development.

Each have established very different approaches to play.

(Veale, 2013)

What is a play

theory?

Why do we need play theories?

Play Theories

“Theories help us to predict and anticipate how children might behave and react. They help us to structure what we observe. Theories help us to make sense of what we see”.

(Bruce, 2001, p. 19)

Theories of children's play In small groups research the following pioneers /

theorist’s and present your findings to the group. Once you have completed your presentations upload them to Moodle.

Group one Jean-Jacques Rousseau Friedrich Frobel Jenny Lindon

Group Two Rudolph Steiner Margaret McMillan Susan Isaacs

Group Three Jean Piaget Lev Vygotsky Janet Moyles

Group Four Jerome Bruner Maria Montessori Tina Bruce

Use the books, laptops or computers research into play theories. Discuss the following

Who is the theorist / pioneer? What are the Key facts? How does the theory relate to children's play? Did their theory influence any others? Did their theory influence current practice, if

so how?

References: Tassoni, P, Hucker, K. (2000) Planning Play and

the Early Years. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers.

Veale, F. (ed)(2013) Early Years for levels 4 and 5 and the Foundation Degree. 4th edn. Oxon: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.