Thanks to your help, we're integrating play in the classroom!
Imagine a classroom in Africa, Asia or the Middle East: there are rows of desks—all facing a chalkboard where the teacher will start the lesson.
Now imagine the students walking into this classroom and finding a seat. Sounds like a normal school day, right? But what if there weren't enough desks for all of the students?
In the disadvantaged countries where we work, classrooms are filled to capacity. In fact, according to UNESCO, it's normal for African primary schools to have more than 50 kids in one classroom with just one teacher.
And that teacher typically teaches the lessons by writing information on the chalkboard, while the children take notes.
Right To Play Classrooms are different.
our teachers use interactive games to engage students.
Teachers involved in our programs who are using our Continuum of Teacher Training method, bring math, science, reading and writing to life by delivering their lessons through play-based activities.
Why? Because play helps children learn.
Here's an example of how this works:
To help the children learn how to add and subtract math, the teacher leads them through a numeracy skills game called: Evens and Odds.
To play the game, the class pushes the desks aside to create a safe play space. Then, the teacher splits the group into two teams: Team Evens and Team Odds.
The objective of this game is for each player to tag a player on the opposing team, before running to touch the wall. Players who reach the wall without being tagged are deemed safe.
BUT! Before the players can tag one another, they must solve the mathematical question the teacher writes on the chalkboard, first.
If the sum is an odd number: players on Team Odds will try tagging peers from Team Evens before they reach the safe zone.
If the sum is an even number: players on Team Evens will try tagging peers from Team Odds before they reach the safe zone.
If a player is caught, he or she must join the opposite team. After each equation, the group reviews the math equations together. The game ends when only one team remains.
Once the game is over, the students return to their desks and talk about the activity, reflecting on what they learned and applying what they experienced to their daily lives. We call this discussion: Reflect-Connect-Apply.
It's amazing what an engaging learning environment can do for children.
We know: children learn best when they have fun. In school, play sparks curiosity, imagination, creativity and stimulates their minds to attain and remember information. Here's how our play-based learning is positively impacting classrooms around the world:
Heightened participation: In Thailand, 76% of children in Right To Play partner schools reported being involved in decision-making in their classroom, compared to only 62% in non-program schools.
Positive relationships: In Pakistan, the percentage of children playing well with children from different groups was 14% higher than non-program children.
Better academic performance: In our program countries in Western Africa, parents and teachers report an increase in attendance and enrollment rates, and a decrease in drop-out rates.
