Play and Environment

About this unit

In this unit students extend their understanding of the characteristics and theoretical approaches to play and collaborative learning and their role in the curriculum. They explore how environments and resources can be used to promote children’s active and authentic engagement in learning, resilience and wellbeing. The unit details relationships between children’s play and inquiry across the full range of subject disciplines and learning areas. It further provides students with practical opportunities to analyse experiences that foster learning in early childhood.

Content

• Contemporary and cultural considerations with respect to children’s play; an overview of the exploration of major theorists and theories
• Theories about and constructs of play
• Categories of play
• Pedagogy and play – the teacher’s role
• The environment as the third teacher – Reggio Emilia
• Setting up learning environments – theory of loose parts
• Indoor and outdoor play experiences
• Nature, natural materials and outdoor playspaces
• Selection and maintenance of learning materials and equipment
• Exploration of current understandings of the place of play in appropriate curriculum for children, in both school and prior-to-school settings
• Daily living experiences (routines) in early learning settings and their potential for learning
• Implications for multi and single age groups
• Equity and inclusion in play

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