Science with Mike A Play based learning theme

Term Three  - Week One
31 July
Mike is taking the class for three science based sessions with play learning integrated.
This is challenging my current practices and provoking a lot of thought about play learning and comparison with established teaching practices.

Children have designed a fitness circuit to make their legs stronger for cross country. The board shows the curriculum documents as I make links and post photos of the children to see saw to share with their fmilies

My BIG QUESTION
Is it really better?  What is it better for?
This afternoon it was great to have the opportunity to really look at the entire curriculum displayed on a white board and reflect on what exactly the children were doing.
Benefits of play based learning I found  so far....

• Great opportunity to stand back and really observe the children
• Good space for Key Competences to be observed and for the children to put them into action in a natural way as they related with each other, negotiated and compromised. 
• It is a fairly uncontrived environment and the children really got to use their agency and their good judgement
• The children have the opportunity to be creative and use their thinking and imagination to play

As I became more aware of the opportunities to see the Curriculum in ACTION- I noticed that the children were working in many curriculum areas simultaneously, Dramatic play-ARTS, Measuring and Estimating, MATH, Writing and creating words, ENGLISH, Health and PE as they managed risk.

It was also interesting to note much of what they were doing I would not notice within the regular class programme.

It was very challenging for me to see this as good enough to make a post and to send to the child's parents on see saw. Would they see value in this (as real learning) or view it as trival?

Next Steps -  Develop greater familiarity with the curriculum
                   - Continue to do schedule regular slots for play based learning for my class and develop my own thinking and level of comfort with how it fits into my concept of 'real learning".