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Playing in the Anthropocene:
PL.A.i (PLaying in the Anthropocene: inquiry group; "play")
Welcome to the site of the Playing in the Anthropocene inquiry group! This page is where the materials, resources, and documentation related to our work together will be stored.
The PL.A.i group is made up of teachers working with children between the ages of 1-6 who want to investigate playful ways of thinking about unplayful topics, specifically the climate crisis, with young children.
Meetings
This year (2025-2026), our monthly meetings will be held entirely REMOTELY on Mondays from 6-7:30pm EST to accommodate our group members in various countries and time zones.
Our gatherings will include:
playing together
sharing documentation and readings
reflection/discussion on a provocation
an emergent process of learning and listening
Upcoming meetings:
October 13, 2025
November 10, 2025
December 8, 2025
January 12, 2026
February 9, 2026
March 9, 2026
April 13, 2026
May 11, 2026
June 8, 2026
A reflection protocol we used in our first year of PLAi to look at teachers' documentation:
(from Project Zero's Pedagogy of Play)
About Us
Facilitators
Lisa Goddard is a third year PhD Fellow in Reggio Childhood Studies at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia/Fondazione Reggio Children (Reggio Emilia, Italy). She has worked as a pedagogista, early childhood educator, and curriculum developer in Boston, Cambridge, and Italy. She currently lives in Italy with her two dogs.
Karen Ekeze joins Lisa for the third year of PLAi as co-facilitator. She is a pre-kindergarten teacher in New York and has facilitated a local book club to engage colleagues in climate justice work based on Tom Roderick's book, Teach for Climate Justice.
Participants
Participants have included:
educators at independent schools, public schools, and nature-based programs in Boston, MA (USA)
educators and admin at child care centers in Cambridge, MA (USA)
researchers at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMore) / Reggio Children Foundation (Italy)
master's students in Cambridge, MA (USA)
educators in school districts in New York (USA)
doctoral researchers in USA, Brazil, and Malaysia
consultants and experts from Oregon (USA)
and more
Advisors
Many thanks to the experts advising on the inquiry group, including:
Researchers from Project Zero (Harvard University)
Pedagogical leaders from Worcester Head Start
Developers from Boston Public School Early Childhood Department
Coordinators of the Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network
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