Teaching through Play!

Subject: Quality Education
School: Al Madrasatus Saifiyah tul Burhaniyah, Shabbirabad, Karachi.

Final draft
April 26, 2019

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all .” Aristotle

Introduction:

Since 2000 there has been a dramatic increase in literacy rates, and many more girls are in school than ever before. These are all remarkable successes. Progress has also been tough in some developing countries due to high levels of poverty, armed conflicts and other emergencies. Achieving inclusive and quality education for all reaffirms the belief that education is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. 617 million youth worldwide lack basic mathematics and literacy skills.

Content:
As an early years educator, I believe that early years in a child’s life are critical to the development of his/her personality, intelligence and social behavior. There is a Chinese proverb “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” I would like to introduce play – based learning in our curriculum.

Play helps children develop strong oral communication skills, make friends, and become more confident. Play can be self- directed or guided. There are different types of plays: Creative, Imaginative, Manipulative and Physical. For conducting these plays in our premises, we should create role- play areas. Through role-play areas children can:
• Reveal their existing knowledge and kills
• Develop their problem – solving skills
• Use and apply in different contexts
• Develop positive attitudes towards learning.

How to plan a Role Play?
Sample plan
“ Doll’s House”
• Expose the children to real life like situations.
• Enrich their vocabulary through exposure to new words.
• Enable them to express themselves.
• Improve their language skills.

Objectives:
By the end of the activity the children will be able to:
• Learn names of different rooms in a house and things which belong to these rooms eg: living room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom.
• Communicate with each other.
• Learn to take care of their loved ones eg: Doll.

Mode of teaching: Activity – based learning.

Resources:
Cartons Glaze

Paper cloth

Poster paints

German glue

Scotch TapS

Dolls Oven Sink

Small Carpet boxes Tins

Thermopole sheets

Rods

Masking tape

Process:
A circular will be sent to parents asking them to send a doll to school.
• A group of 12 children will go to the Role- Play area.
• 3 Children can help act their dolls as host.
• 2 Children will make their dolls sleep in the bedroom.
• 3 in the kitchen preparing food.
• 1 in the bathroom with a doll.
• 3 with the guest dolls.
The activity will enhance the skills of:
• Sharing, co-operating, Decision making, Speaking and Listening skills and observing.

Time allotted:
• 10 minutes instructions
• Unlimited pretend play
• 30 minutes for worksheets
The activity is planned in context with real life situations, to make learning meaningful, stimulating, interesting and motivating for the children.

Instructions:
• Before the activity the subject will be briefed to the children. A teacher will take a group of 12 children and demonstrate how to use the role-play area ( Doll’s house).

Assesment:
• After completing the role-play, children will be given worksheets to assess their learning and to determine how well they have grasped and absorbed the pretend play.

The theme of the role-play could vary according to the class level. There could be baby clinic, restaurant, doctor’s surgery, stationary shop or super market. As I conclude,”..because he learns through play, a child learns willingly and learns much. Play must not be left out of the elementary curriculum.”( Froebel 1967)