‘Please excuse the mess, we are busy learning’…

Our Kindergarten boys learn a huge number of different skills through play. It allows them to explore, discover, negotiate with peers, take risks, listen to others, take turns, create meaning and solve problems. All of these important skills have been shown to help develop literacy, numeracy and social skills.                                                    

Research shows that ‘children who engage in complex forms of socio-dramatic play have greater language skills than non-players, better social skills, more empathy, more imagination, and more of the subtle capacity to know what others mean’ (Edward Miller and Joan Almon 2009).

We know that children are inherently active learners and that they learn best when they’re having fun. We also know that they are more likely to be having fun when they are playing!  

Play was successfully incorporated into Kindergarten’s ‘Signs and Symbols’ inquiry unit, culminating in the boys designing and creating a class sized Kindy City.

The first part of this process involved the boys being city planners. They were required to think about what was needed in a city and the best placement of these features in the classroom. We created a large plan that mapped out the city and this was continually referred to during the building stage. It was wonderful to hear the conversations that ensued as the boys debated where to put buildings and natural space. The class decided that the airport should not be near the residential homes due to noise. Wet and Wild, Wizzy World and the Kindy Cinema were placed together to create an entertainment precinct and a beautiful large park was designed to be placed in the center of the city. Fast food outlets were also placed near the airport and entertainment area so that people could grab a quick bite to eat. Parks, cafes and schools were placed close to each other and were located near the residential area.

For the next step of the process, the Kindergarten boys donned hard hats and turned into very busy construction workers, creating the Kindy city and designing signs and symbols to inform the public. This was the really hands-on fun part and incorporated literacy, inquiry and mathematical thinking skills. It was a joy to watch the boys in action, working collaboratively, problem solving and using design thinking skills to bring their ideas to life.

For the last part of the process the boys became tour guides and invited their parents and Year 5 buddies into the classroom to showcase Kindy City. The Kindergarten boys were so incredibly proud of what they had accomplished. After the tours were over, it was time for Kindy to enjoy their city and play, play, PLAY! The sound of ambulances and police cars being driven around the road system on their way from the Ambulance and Police Stations still joyfully rings in my ears!

Yes, play-based learning can be messy and noisy but what a beautiful mess and noise!

Belinda Smallhorn – Kindergarten Teacher