Learning through Play at school: Lessons from the Ukraine

Research recognises that children are curious, they have a sense of awe and wonder, and they are eager to grow and learn about the world around them. These understandings about children were at the heart of the Learning through Play at School research study conducted in Ukrainian Primary Schools. The study was designed to support teachers to shift their classroom practice from a teacher-centred approach to one that incorporated play and the use of playful pedagogies to facilitate meaningful learning experiences. This session reports the experiences of the Ukrainian teachers as they implemented learning through play in their classrooms by highlighting changes to their beliefs and their classroom practice, as well as outlining their thoughts about the enablers and barriers they faced. To remain true to the importance of play in learning, the session will include playful breaks to provide participants with time to connect the lessons from Ukrainian classrooms to their own learning environments.