Cathy Manin November 2024

• 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Post and update to your research study and also answer the following questions:

                 2. What does playful learning look and feel like in your classroom?

                 3. To produce the conditions for playful learning, what is one thing that you tried (and tried again)? How did it go? What did you learn? 

In a world where education can sometimes feel overly structured, we’re seeing how powerful it can be to reintroduce play into the classroom. One of the most effective ways we’ve discovered to engage students is through LEGO-based writing assignments. We modeled our lessons after the lesson we saw in Karen's room.  We felt that this was a great starting point in bringing some play into writing. The hands-on, tactile nature of LEGO not only captivates students' attention, but it also ignites their creativity in a way that traditional writing prompts alone often don’t.

What stood out most was the enthusiasm students displayed in their independent writing. With the LEGO creations in front of them, students seemed more excited to write. There was a noticeable shift: rather than being overwhelmed by the blank page, they felt empowered to write because they had a concrete starting point. The creativity that went into their models translated directly into their writing, making their stories more vibrant and imaginative.

We were able to place a grade level grant through the PTA that allowed us to purchase many new manipulatives.  Toys that help foster imagination are fantastic for encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and self-expression in children.