Bridging Risky Play and Learning

Overview

Risky play is often the spark for emergent learning when children are provided with time, space, and freedom to explore the world around them. Teachers can scaffold curricular learning from experiential and emergent learning encountered through play.

Learning Objective: Become more familiar with how curricular learning can be introduced through children’s risky play.

Suggested Discussion Questions

Please use these prompts to dialogue with colleagues how you might engage with outdoor play and learning.

Having observed outdoor play at school, what connections to curricular learning could you suggest?
How might you document the progression of learning that emerges as children engage in risky play?
Which strategies for facilitating after-play discussions might encourage dialogue and reflections of learning with children?