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
My email My email [email protected]@celt.edu.gr
My Twitter IDMy Twitter IDhttp://twitter.com/Marisa_Chttp://twitter.com/Marisa_C
My Centre My Centre www.celt.edu.grwww.celt.edu.gr
My BlogsMy Blogshttp://marisaconstantinides.edublogs.org/http://marisaconstantinides.edublogs.org/
http://celtathens.wordpress.com/http://celtathens.wordpress.com/More about meMore about me
http://about.me/marisa_constantinideshttp://about.me/marisa_constantinides
Top Related