Term
Spring 2020
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Patty Born Selly
Content Expert
Linda Corpman
Abstract
Research has shown that children in Kindergarten learn best when they learn through play. This guide is intended to provide a handbook for Kindergarten teachers on how to incorporate play within the Kindergarten classroom while meeting academic standards. The guide designed for this project focuses on using the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the vast body of research on playful learning and guided play to incorporate developmentally appropriate play in the Kindergarten classroom. The guide includes research-backed talking points that Kindergarten teachers can share with parents, administrators and other stakeholders on the importance of children learning through play in Kindergarten. Another element of the guide is a reference list of types of open-ended materials and toys that encourage play. The guide contains suggestions on how to use the outdoors as a place-based classroom to incorporate play, ideas on how to structure play in integrated ways, and ideas on how to structure play environments leading to specific content area learning. The goal of this project is to help Kindergarten teachers regularly and purposefully incorporate learning through play into their classrooms.
Keywords
Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Early Childhood, Staff Development, Playful learning
Recommended Citation
Burns, Adrienne, "A Year of Curiosity, Wonder, and Imagination: Intentionally Connecting Play with Learning in Kindergarten" (2020). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 488.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/488
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects