A Play Based Environment in a Public School Setting

I get many questions on how I work play into a public school setting. In our room, play is the priority and everything else works around it. The reason for this is that play is how kids learn about the world around them and where they practice skills naturally. One way to foster play is to create an environment where play experiences are set up for them to use as they want to and where they can see, think and wonder. They will practice not only academic skills, which do get used constantly in very authentic ways as kids play, but also the life skills they need in order to be successful in any setting. In order for kids to be successful, they need to develop and practice problem solving (this includes problems with others), critical thinking, creative thinking, patience, collaboration/teamwork, communication, and self regulation/self control. In our room, these are the priority all year long.

Here is a tour of the areas in our new room in our new school and why they are important! The room has already changed a bit since these pictures were taken and will continue to change as I get more shelves and tables needed for some of these areas! Here is what it looks like so far and how each area fosters learning.

Here are a couple before pictures of our room. It is truly a beautiful new room/building and I love it!! It’s so big! The building and technology are top-of-the-line! And we have air conditioning! I am very appreciative of all they did for us in this wonderful new building.

Here is our room after I added my own things that I feel are also necessary to teach early childhood and my own personal touches. We do put a lot into our classrooms. The art easel and Dramatic Play furniture came from my old classroom. The baskets you see are not for decoration but are used as containers for different things we use throughout the year.

Here is our literacy area. I desperately need a bigger table dedicated for writing! Hopefully soon! In this area, books for enjoyment and learning can be enjoyed and provide inspiration! Laying down with a good book is also a great way to self regulate and calm big feelings! Same with writing/drawing! Writing materials such as crayons, thick and thin markers, colored pencils, pens, scented markers, water colors, etc. will be kept here for them to record their stories. Also, decodable  books and literacy stations will be here for them to practice phonics and other reading skills. They choose what they want to work on when they visit here.

Here they are practicing making different lines by painting them on a rock with water. Lines are important because we use them when forming letters and drawing pictures. 

This is the math area. Right now they are exploring the different materials we will use when exploring math concepts and learning how to take care of them and put them back where they belong when they are done.

Measuring by weight is a huge interest I have noticed as they played so I will set something up here soon so that they can explore that concept further!



This is our Dramatic Play Area where they can role play different roles such as those at home, in restaurants, at the airport, flower shop, beauty salon, space station, bakery, toy shop, etc. This area will be changed based on their interests! Here they practice most of the language skills in our state standards. They also write for authentic reasons because they need to. They build vocabulary as it turned into new areas. They practice problem solving skills as problems arise between them and their friends or when something isn’t going as planned. They act out stories showing knowledge of sequence and comprehension. They use critical and creative thinking skills here also! It’s one of the most important areas in an early childhood setting!

Next is our art area! I need to add another table to this area also! Here is where their creative thinking skills can shine! Things will be hung up to inspire them, but I always let them listen to their inner artist in this area! Art builds confidence and also is a calming self regulation tool that can help with mental health! Tempera paint, water colors, play dough, clay, colored paper, yarn, collage materials and more will be made available in this area.

The glass jars hold loose parts that will be used in pretty much every area in the room! 





This area is our Maker Space. Ultimately it will be the area where kids will write out a plan and create using art materials and recyclables. Paper tubes, puff balls, beads, feathers, wire, pipe cleaners any odds and ends parents send in that they think kids could create something with! A mixture of art and engineering happen here. They have to be both creative and critical thinkers and also problem solvers when their idea or materials they chose aren’t working out! They will sometimes collaborate with others to create a project together or ask for someone’s help if they can’t figure it out. Here they have to learn to deal with frustration and have grit! They learn to not give up but instead to sometimes walk away from it then come back and  problem solve! At first they created with mandala pieces until they learned how to be responsible with glue and scissors. For now they can create with paper, scissors and glue but as they learn to take care of more materials, more will be added. 

Here is our Engineering Area! It is filled with Engineering toys such as Legos, Magnetix, K’Nex, etc. Here they will use creative and critical thinking skills, problem solving skills and will also collaborate with a team to create things! Also, what is more calming if your frustrated, angry or sad than building with these toys! 

This is our Building Area! It fosters similar skills as Engineering, but also creative storytelling! I love the stories they share with the settings and characters they create here with blocks and other materials. I also see a lot of math and physics being explored in this area!

Our Science Area has been very popular the first week of school! These kids love to wonder, look closer, and explore and this is the place to do it! It also happens outside! Some are very interested in bugs. Here they will also use writing skills as they create informational writing about what they see, wonder and think! They will be able to use art materials including paint and clay later to show what they notice as scientists!

I love how they made friends for an ant they caught so it wouldn’t be lonely! They tried so hard to catch the grasshopper!



We have a sensory area where they can calm through running their hand through different materials. They can also explore math and literacy concepts here. Right now they are filling, scooping and dumping!

We have an area to explore through light but it has not been opened yet!

Drawing and writing materials are always available at their tables also! I separate crayons by color because it makes them choose colors more deliberately rather than just grabbing a random crayon from a box. They also take much better care of them this way so they last much longer!

This will be where I do small group instruction. Reading, writing, and math will be practiced here but we will also use this space for group projects that go along with the subjects we will study in science and social studies.



And last but not least is our whole group area where I provide whole group instruction in all subjects but also where we dance, sing, be silly and enjoy good stories together!

And that is our new room! As you can see, play has many benefits. Not only for learning but for mental health and community building. Almost every area can be used to clam down or get your mind to take a break from problems or emotions that sometimes might take it over. I started teaching this way the last 10 of my 29 years of teaching and the difference in the kids problem solving skills and coping skills is amazing! The first half of the year I guide them through it, the second half of the year, most are doing most of it on their own. 

We had a great first week! You will hear all about what we have been learning about in next weeks blog post!