Introduction: Somewhere Along the Way We've Decided They're Too Old to Play
Have you ever been in a kindergarten classroom? It's filled with bright colors, fun activities like blocks, pretend play, centers, manipulatives, games, and lots of movement activities. Early elementary classrooms are expected to follow best practices and include those in their setup. But, once you step into an upper elementary classroom, you will see that those things have largely disappeared. The blocks are gone. The centers go away and things seem more serious. Worksheets and textbook learning takes over leaving little room for play. Students are expected to sit quietly, listen, and work on page after page.
Play doesn't have to be something you squeeze in after learning. Play is often how some of the best learning takes place.
1. Play Increases Participation
When I tell students to complete a math page of 20 problems, for instance, I may hear some moans from across the classroom. But if I say, find a partner, we're going to play a game to practice these facts, the excitement is real. The skills are the same, but the energy has totally changed. I remember when I gamified the classroom with my circus multiplication activity. Students were excited about their learning overall and much more engaged. They raced through the activities, working carefully to unlock the next levels. They were looking forward to earning tickets for our carnival-style circus games where they could also earn prizes.
2. Games Give Kids a Reason to Practice
Many skills involve lots of repetition for students to master. Skills such as multiplication facts, division facts, fractions, vocabulary, and even grammar need lots of practice. Worksheets give that repetition, but games can provide that too. The difference is that students actually want to practice when a game is involved.
If you give your students page after page of math worksheets you can be sure you will hear some sort of disgruntled sounds or words from the kids. But students will happily solve many math facts when they are trying to beat a friend in a game.
3. Play Teaches Things That Aren't on the Worksheet
While students are playing games, they are not just practicing math or any other skill. They are also learning important life skills such as:
- taking turns
- following rules
- communication
- solving disagreements
4. Play Lets me see my Students Differently
When I am walking around my classroom while students are playing games, I have the opportunity to observe students in a different light. I might hear a student explaining their thinking to their partner. I can see who understands a concept but needs a bit more confidence in the skill. I notice who has a strategy for solving the facts. I can see who is following procedures without really understanding them.
Some of a teacher's best informal assessment happens when students don't even realize they are being assessed. The pressure is off and they can really let their knowledge shine through.
5. Play Gives Kids a Chance to Be Kids
Yes, upper elementary students may seem quite grown up when you compare them with kindergarteners, but remember, they are STILL little. They still enjoy being silly. They still like pretending. They still want and need to move. They get excited about competitions, challenges, themes, dice, cards, and ridiculous classroom games.
Often districts pressure teachers to have kids produce something tangible and measurable. But, I do not believe, for even one second, that school has to look completely serious to be valuable.
6. Play Doesn't Mean a Classroom is Out of Control
Many teachers think that if there is noise or fun in the classroom it must be because learning is not happening and it is out of control. Classrooms with productive play still have expectations, routines, and boundaries. It is all about the training. Students have to learn:
- how loud they can be
- where materials belong
- what happens if there is a disagreement
- when the game ends
- how to clean-up
- what appropriate competition looks like
As a teacher, I spend time teaching my students how to play classroom games at the start of the year because it will continue to pay off throughout the year.
7. Play Doesn't Have to be Complicated
There are lots of things you can do, starting tomorrow, that are simple and free.
Math: Dice games, card games, around the room challenges, multiplication races
Reading: Reader's theater, vocabulary charades or headbands, acting out parts of speech
Grammar: Silly sentence challenges, grammar games
Science: Building challenges, observation games
Brain Breaks: Quick movement challenges
Indoor Recess: Board games, drawing, building puzzles
8. What I've Learned After Years in the Classroom
I have taught for long enough to have seen plenty of educational trends come and go. State expectations change. Standards change. Curriculums change. Kids don't change.
Your students still want to laugh, have fun and move. They still want to create. They want to play with their friends. And, if I can combine those things with learning, I don't consider one second of that instruction time a waste. I consider it quite the opposite, great teaching.
How do you make room for play inside the four walls of your classroom? I'd love to hear about games, traditions, activities, or crafts that your students never seem to outgrow.
Looking for more ideas? Check out my TPT store games right here.
