The Importance of Play in the Young Learners' Classroom

The Importance of Play in the Young Learners' Classroom

Marisa Constantinides, CELT Marisa Constantinides, CELT AthensAthens

1 CONCEPTUAL GAMES1 CONCEPTUAL GAMES

Cognitive abilities

Categorise identify similarities or differences of use identify property identify weight (singly or in combination) understand and express the notion of time.

2 VISUAL PERCEPTUAL TASKS 2 VISUAL PERCEPTUAL TASKS cognitive abilities cognitive abilities

categorise identify similarities or differences of use identify property identify weight (singly or in combination)understand and express the notion of time.

mainly through the visual channelmainly through the visual channel.

also help develop concepts ofalso help develop concepts ofspacesizerelative locationcolour.

Kim’s GameKim’s Game

Images from Microsoft Clip Art

Kim’s GameKim’s Game

3 AUDITORY PERCEPTUAL 3 AUDITORY PERCEPTUAL TASKSTASKS

Games or gamelike activities which Games or gamelike activities which concentrate on developing abilities concentrate on developing abilities similar to 2, but mainly through the similar to 2, but mainly through the accoustic channel.accoustic channel.

e.g.

Musical ChairsSimon Says I went to market and I bought a ......

Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P247zuhIEhQ

4 FINE MOTOR TASKS 4 FINE MOTOR TASKS developing motor skills

tracing a route through a maze

cutting around a design

colouring in

5 ARTISTIC 5 ARTISTIC ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

Any activity which aims to develop the child's awareness of the world of the arts, e.g.

Drawing

Painting

Making collages

READ & DRAW

There were five trees next to our house; two apple trees with red apples, and two with yellow apples.

The third one was a fir tree and at Christmas we put coloured lights on it.

EFL versionEFL version

Or PICTURE DICTATION

7 PHYSICAL PLAY7 PHYSICAL PLAY

Includes, running, wrestling, rolling around the floor, playing hide-and-seek and helps children become aware of their body, its potential and its limitations.

http://leadersintraining.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/politicians-kids-in-sandbox/

Image Source http://leadersintraining.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/politicians-kids-in-sandbox/

Physical play in ELTPhysical play in ELT

Mimes

Drama activities

Circle games

Throwing a ball/toy to another pupil

Total physical response activities

Image from http://inmanhybridelectives.blogspot.gr/2013/10/the-great-guinea-egg-mix-up.html

8 REPRESENTATIONAL 8 REPRESENTATIONAL OBJECT PLAYOBJECT PLAY

To help the child interact and learn more To help the child interact and learn more about the world and its workingsabout the world and its workings ; ; involves involves the use of small objects symbolising the real the use of small objects symbolising the real world, such asworld, such as

toy carstoy carszoo animalszoo animalsdollsdolls. .

Image Sourece: http://homeandofficedecors.com/kids-playing-room-with-colorful-toys-in-preschool-classroom-toy-room-ideas-decorating.htm

9 FANTASY PLAY9 FANTASY PLAY

The child steps out of this world and enters the world of make believe, e.g.

playing house

playing teacher.

From http://blog.kidtelligent.com/homework-goals/playing-school-5/

In the ELT classIn the ELT class

Playacting

Roleplaying

Puppets

Puppet theatre

Skits

School plays

From http://images.step2.com/images/products/v2/Zoom/881200_001.jpg/

Image source http://bit.ly/1uMCjwi

More ELT games for YL’s

DESCRIBE & DRAW

Player A describes a picture to Player B who listens & draws the picture.

FIND DIFFERENCES or SIMILARITIES

Players A & B have a different picture each.

HAPPYHAPPY FAMILIESFAMILIES

Image source http://bit.ly/ZhDlmz

Find the OrderFind the Order

The story of the

Little gingerbread

man

Images from http://www.magickeys.com/books/gingerbread/index.html

Board gamesBoard games

PlayingMaking

Hide your wordsHide your words

PictionaryPictionary A member of

each team is called out to the him/her. His fellow team players shout out words and must guess the word within a time limit.

A Snake

T Ladder

J Doctor

A He is reading

F Happy

Running or wall dictationRunning or wall dictation

Miss Raindrop is walking along the street. She is walking with her friends. Her friends are running and shouting: “Run! Run, Miss Raindrop! Run!” But she is a lazy girl Miss Raindrop and she is walking very slowly. “Run!” her friends are saying. “Hurry! We must go to the river before the sun comes out!”

Circle games

From http://childcarecenter.us/static/images/providers/9/1065119/139334-circle-game.jpg

Image from #eltpics taken by @escocesa_madrid

Mingling gamesMingling games

Seriousness vs Seriousness vs PlayfulnessPlayfulness

Epistemic vs Playful behaviours Epistemic vs Playful behaviours

Play is…

'a non-serious and self-contained activity which we engage in just for the satisfaction involved in it’

R.F.Dearden's (1967) 

Play in the YL ELT class…

• Cognitive aims• Language learning aims

Games are great!

Games are fun!

Games motivate!

But….

Play in the YL ELT Class is…

… a very serious business

References

Dearden, R.F., 1967, The Concept of Play, in Peters, R.S. (Ed), "The Concept of Education', Routlege & Kegan PaulTyler,S,1991,      Play in Relation to the National Curriculum, in Hall, N. & Abbot, L, 1991, Play in the Primary Classroom, Hodder & Stoughton

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