Play - Based Learning R-2

At St. Joseph's Primary our Play-based Inquiry sessions (Discovery Time) play a large role in laying the foundations for students to develop as independent learners.

Our play-based sessions run three to four times a week. Stations with a range of learning foci are set up within the classrooms and outdoor spaces and provide explicit  links to support our literacy, numeracy and integrated inquiry programs.

Students have freedom of choice in their learning focus, which promotes personalised, meaningful learning.

Examples of learning stations include:

Writer's workshop

Numeracy activities

Sensory

Construction

ICT

Science

Social games

Dramatic play

Reading corner

Craft/collage

Children's Interest table

Play-based Inquiry provides a meaningful, non-threating learning environment where students feel confident to take risks in their learning. They work individually, alongside and collaboratively with their peers during these sessions.

The teachers role within these sessions is to act as a facilitator of learning by participating in conservations with the students, asking open-ended questions and provoking their thinking by challenging the students to take their learning further.