There are many approaches to play and learning. This you know already if you have any interest in play based instruction at all. However, not every approach makes sense for every learning environment.
Play Workshop is one approach that makes sense in our balanced play based learning classroom. Not only that, but Play Workshop is also the perfect springboard for new Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers as well as veteran teachers who are looking to include more purposeful play in their classrooms.
The summer before I started my position as a 4K teacher in a play based classroom, I spent every minute of my day (and often into the late nights) preparing. I read all the relevant professional learning books that I could quickly get my hands on. On Instagram, I stalked countless preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten teachers. I continually scoured Pinterest for all the best approaches to play and learning activities.
As the school year inched closer, my brain was pumped with ideas and my heart was filled with excitement! But then it happened . . . I realized I had TOO MANY IDEAS and not enough time or resources to implement them all right away.
Sound Familiar?
Have you ever been excited to try out a new-to-you approach to teaching and learning in your classroom, only to find out that you are not able to tackle all of the ideas as quickly as you had anticipated? I am betting you and I have that in common.
There is a happy ending to my story . . . one that I hope will bring joyful, purposeful teaching and learning into your classroom as well. Are you ready for it? Here was the answer to my problem back then: Play Workshop. This approach was the springboard that allowed me to begin my journey as a teacher who values learning through play.
My ultimate goal is to help you implement Play Workshop in your Pre-K or Kindergarten classroom so that your little learners experience powerful play each and every day. In order to get started, we will address the question, “What is Play Workshop?” in this blog post.
So if you are an educator who is looking for a way to include more play in your school day and intentionally teach into that play, then let’s get started!
What Is Play Workshop?
Defining Play Workshop
Teachers of little learners know the importance of play. It is imperative to include a regularly scheduled block of time during the school day in which students are free to pursue their own interests with self-selected materials. When we attach a workshop structure to this free choice play time, we are implementing a Play Workshop approach.
Play Workshop is a block of time in the school day that is set aside purely for play and that includes intentional teaching into that play. This is different from say, math exploration in which a teacher offers partner games and other playful math activities. In this example, the teacher infuses play into math instruction and practice. Play Workshop, on the other hand, is a time in which students play and the teacher infuses important skills instruction and practice into that play.
The Many Names for Play Workshop
I have to tell you a secret . . . you might already be using Play Workshop as one of your approaches to play and learning in your classroom without even realizing it. Some teachers refer to Play Workshop by other names. You may have heard the terms Choice Time, Free Play, Exploration Time, and even simply Purposeful Play.
Or perhaps you are not yet using a Play Workshop approach, but you may be well on your way. You might already offer your students a regular time of the school day in which they are free to choose their materials and activities. You may be ready to level up to a workshop approach by simply adding a focus lesson prior to play time and a share activity after play time.
Workshop Framework In Other Content Areas
Play Workshop, like other content-area workshop teaching, follows a predictable structure:
- whole group
- independent work time
- whole group
The workshop approach is commonly used in reading, writing, and math. This structure can be applied to play as well. Check out the visual below to see the similarities.
As an educator who has previously taught kindergarten and first grade, I have experienced the success of the workshop approach while teaching reading, writing, and math. Of course I want my 4K friends to have those same positive experiences. I could not agree more with the authors of the book, Purposeful Play, when they state that “play, with its unpredictable nature, deserves to be taught in a workshop structure as well.”
What Does the Play Workshop Structure Look Like?
Three Core Components of Play Workshop
In Play Workshop specifically, the whole group, independent work time, whole group structure looks like this:
- focus lesson
- play and explore
- group share
Focus Lesson
During the focus lesson, students are gathered in a whole group space (typically a large rug). The teacher leads a quick strategy lesson that supports little learners in their play. The focus lesson might be all about making a plan for their play, managing toys and materials, building their play stamina . . . the list goes on!
If you are interested in learning more about focus lessons specifically, check out this blog post! There you can dive deeper into WHAT to teach your students during Play Workshop as well as HOW to accomplish this.
Play and Exploration Time
Just like all approaches to play and learning, Play Workshop must have a play and exploration time. During this time, students are guiding their own play using self-selected materials. Simultaneously, the teacher observes students, documents those observations, and supports students as needed.
In order to ensure that this part of Play Workshop runs smoothly, I highly recommend the implementation of a free play choice board. Jump over to my blog post, “How to Calm the Classroom Chaos with the Perfect Free Play Choice Board,” to learn more!
If you want help setting up your play centers WITHOUT the overwhelm and pressure to “do all the things,” be sure to check out my blog post: How to Set Up Simple Play Centers.
Group Share Activity
Play Workshop wraps up with the group share. The share activity can take many forms, but typically the teacher leads the students to reflect on their work and play as it relates to the focus lesson. Sometimes the share activity may be different from what the teacher originally planned, based on his or her observations and the immediate needs of the students.
Breakdown of a Typical Play Workshop Session
Fun fact about me . . . I do not like discussing how long and how often students “should” be doing any particular activity. Everyone seems to have an opinion about it, but not everyone has the same teaching experiences, available materials, number of students, learning environments and spaces, classroom schedules, administrative support, etc.
With that being said, I also know that it can be beneficial to see how other educators run their classrooms. Checking out how other teachers operate Play Workshop was extremely helpful for me when I started, so I hope to offer the same to you. Take a peek at the image below to get an idea of what Play Workshop looks like in our 4K classroom.
It is important to note that this suggested breakdown is a goal. In other words, our little learners cannot be expected to adapt to this schedule immediately. It is a gradual process.
Additionally, these times are approximate and flexible. For example, if play and exploration time is going well and my students are deep in their play, I will likely extend that time to 45 minutes. During clean up, I will help expedite the process and rely on our educational assistant to help any stragglers. Then, during the group share activity, I condense the activity . . . or save a part of the group share activity for the next day.
It is important to be flexible and change things up, based on the needs of our students. You know your students best and what approaches to play and learning work in your classroom. It all seems to work out in the end!
How Long Is Play and Exploration Time?
This question pops into my Instagram DMs and email inbox at times: “How long do your students play?” Again, I am not a huge fan of talking about minutes. I believe teachers should focus on what they can do with the situation they are in currently.
With that being said, my students play for a minimum of 35 minutes during Play Workshop. Let me reiterate that my students are not playing for only 35 minutes throughout the entire school day. Rather, those 35 minutes of free play are specifically for the Play Workshop time of our day. Additionally, it is my ongoing goal to continually tweak our schedule and rethink the way that our classroom runs, as a way to carve out more time for purposeful play.
And let’s be real . . . life happens, especially with our littlest learners. Sometimes unexpected interruptions cause that 35 minutes to be shortened. Have you ever had a surprise fire drill, but you still need to get your students to the cafeteria on time? Certainly you have experienced situations that inevitably cause your play and exploration time to be shortened. Not every day will be ideal and that is okay. Let the teacher guilt go, my friend!
How Does Play Workshop Fit Into the Day?
Play Workshop is one piece to a larger puzzle. What your completed puzzle looks like will depend on your teaching situation. Let’s look at a few examples.
Play Workshop as One Piece of a Play Based Classroom
I am a 4K teacher in a public school, meaning that I have the pleasure of working with four year-olds in a full-day setting. The term “4K” is widely used in our state (Wisconsin), but the term “Pre-K” seems to be more commonly used in other areas. For that reason, I will use the term “Pre-K” here.
So, if you are a Pre-K teacher who is fortunate enough to be a part of a play based program, YAY! Check out the visual below to see how Play Workshop might fit into your balanced play based school day.
It is important to note that while Play Workshop will likely happen every day, it is unlikely that you will be able to squeeze in ALL of these activities in one day. So just try to balance the activities out throughout the week.
Play Workshop as One Piece of an Academics Focused Classroom
On the other hand, if you are a Kindergarten teacher or if you are a Pre-K teacher in a more academics-focused program, your days (and weeks) are going to look different. You may be in a situation in which Play Workshop is not feasible every day. (I am especially looking at you Kindergarten teachers. I totally get it! Been there.) You know what I am going to say . . . just do what you can for your students.
This might mean that you alternate activities throughout the week. Or perhaps you can get creative with your schedule when you know you will have a lot of indoor recess days. Instead of resorting to a movie, use that extra time to your advantage by running a Play Workshop.
So if you are a Kindergarten teacher or a Pre-K teacher in a more academics-focused program, check out the visual below to see how Play Workshop can be one regular part of your balanced school day (or week).
Play Workshop as a Springboard
In the early childhood field, we hear about open-ended play, modeled play, guided play, and purposefully-framed play. We know about big body play, gross motor play, and play that includes fine motor practice. Recess vs. nature play vs. outdoor play are common discussions in our field. We understand the importance of fantasy play, constructive play, and games with rules. And that is just the start of it. There is so much to think about!
If you are new to play-based learning, start with Play Workshop and grow from there. I can tell you from experience that it is an approach that is powerful for children, yet digestible for you as the teacher. Get a firm handle on this approach and solidify how you run Play Workshop in your classroom. Then after that, as your comfort and confidence grow, think about other ways to make the other parts of your school day more playful . . . always moving toward more balanced play.
Need Additional Help?
Blog Posts
If you need to take a step back before diving into Play Workshop, I have some blog posts for you. The following will help you gain a deeper understanding of the approaches to play and learning:
- What Is Purposeful Play Based Learning In Pre-K and Kindergarten?
- How Can Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers Support Learning Through Play?
Play Workshop Video
The audio is not the greatest on this video. However, it is totally worth taking a peek. As you are watching, notice the focus lesson at the beginning of their Play Workshop (though they refer to it as their Purposeful Play program).
The focus lesson is about perseverance . . . a skill that is not only important in play, but also in other content areas, as well as life in general.
Also, take note of the play and explore time. This video omits the group share activity at the end of their Play Workshop, but you can imagine how the teacher might come back to the topic of perseverance. Perhaps she might ask her students to answer the question, “How did you show perseverance as you played today?”
Approaches to Play and Learning Professional Development
Kristi Mraz has been fundamental in my learning around Play Workshop. I have closely read (and reread) a handful of her books on the approaches to play and learning. Fortunately, I have also had opportunities to attend several of her professional learning opportunities both in-person and virtual. I highly recommend each experience!
Here is the link for the various professional development sessions that Kristi offers. If you convince your administrator to fund your experience, let me know! I would love to chat with you about what you hope to get out of the workshop before you go. We can chat about what you learned after you attend, too.
Approaches to Play and Learning Books
The book, Purposeful Play, by Kristi Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler was my lifeboat when first learning about Play Workshop. You can grab yourself a copy of the book by using my Amazon link. If you need some additional convincing, check out Kristi Mraz’s article, Let’s Talk About Purposeful Play.
Disclosure: My Amazon store includes affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a small affiliate commission, if you click through a link and finalize a purchase.
Approaches to Play and Learning Tips and Tricks
If you are on Instagram, be sure to follow me there. Between posts, reels, and stories, I share regularly on my little pocket of The Gram, typically about approaches to play and learning . . . and specifically Play Workshop. If you hop over there, please be sure to say, “Hi!”
Ready-for-You Lesson Plans
Can you relate to any of these statements?
- Since I am brand new to play based learning, I am overwhelmed with the many approaches to play and learning. I am loving the idea of Play Workshop, but I am stuck with WHAT to teach my students and HOW to intentionally teach into their play.
- My role is a Pre-K teacher in a play based program. I have been teaching for a number of years, but I am looking for ways to be more organized and intentional in my planning and teaching.
- As a Kindergarten teacher, I know the value of play. I am in a learning environment with an administrator who supports my desire to launch Play Workshop in my classroom. However, I am already struggling with the planning involved for all things math, reading, writing, science, and social studies.
If any of the above statements sound like you, I have great news to share! My growing product line, Play Workshop Lesson Plans and Learning Materials, is the answer to your problem.
- Each product includes no less than 5 days worth of lesson plans. The truth is, the lessons include activities that stretch far beyond 5 days, if you so choose.
- Each day includes both your Focus Lesson at the start of Play Workshop as well as your Share Activity to use at the end of Play Workshop.
- Best of all, not only are your lesson plans written out for you, but all supplemental materials are included! That means you get all the visuals, songs, anchor chart pieces, etc. that are referenced in the lesson plans.
Click HERE to check it all out! I include previews with product photography as well as video previews to give you a good idea of what is all included. But if you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out. You can leave a question directly on Teachers Pay Teachers or feel free to email me at the.cream.city.teacher@gmail.com.
A FREEBIE to Use During Play Workshop
Okay teachers, in terms of approaches to play and learning, I have one last goodie for you. So you may be already thinking about YOUR role during Play Workshop when your students are playing. You might be thinking, “Okay, I am all aboard the Play Workshop train, but what do I do when my kiddos are exploring?” That is a common question.
Well, a teacher can be doing many activities during that time. However, one activity is to observe your students at play and document what you see and hear. Going through this process will provide you with so much insight into what your students currently need from you in order to continue growing and learning.
I have a FREE resource to help you with this process. Grab my documentation template to get started. I give you all the details on how to use the resource within the PDF itself, so you feel confident in observing and documenting your students’ play progress.
If you have found this blog post to be helpful, be sure to pin it for later. You can save it on Pinterest by hovering over any image in this blog post and clicking on that pink “Pin!” button.
If you know another teacher who is considering the various approaches to play and learning, go ahead and do them a favor by sharing this link with them!
