Learning-Through-Play: Invented by Catholics

Articles and photo by Shelly Fitness, Principal St Patrick’s Catholic Primary, Te Awamutu

“Learning-through-Play” seems to have swept through our primary schools like wildfire and it is actually a very Catholic concept. Perhaps one of the most well-known learningthrough-play philosophers was Maria Montesorri who was a devout Catholic. It is little spoken about these days but Montesorri’s educational philosophy was her attempt to apply the Catholic Faith to education.

St Patrick’s Catholic School in Te Awamutu consider themselves a ‘learning-though-play school” and children from the ages of five to 13 all have play incorporated into their school day. Play is perhaps most evident in the Colgan Learning Hub where the Year 1 and 2 students begin playing even before the bell rings in the morning and continue with their play-work until

“PLAY IS DOING THE STUFF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DO.” - BRAX, AGED 5

lunchtime each day. Walking through The Hub on an average morning you will likely see students building blanket forts and marble runs, role-playing mums and dads, doctors or police officers, building with blocks and lego, drawing and painting, hammering and sewing, or looking at bugs under a magnifying glass. One thing you can be guaranteed to see is that every child will be deeply engaged in their learning and happy. As Brax, age 5 puts it, “Play is doing the stuff you actually WANT to do.” Shelly Fitness, principal at St Patrick’s, believes it is this element of choice that has made a big difference for her new entrant students. “Our kids can’t wait to get to school each morning. They love it here!”

Paula Carr, Team Leader of The Hub, says that she has also noticed how happy the students are, “When they start school they already know how to play because this has been the main focus of their preschool experiences and it’s just such a natural part of the age and stage they are at. They get to work with others who are interested in similar things. By observing the play, we see lots of cooperation, sharing, negotiating and problem solving. Without time to play our kids would be missing out on so much.”

Play has now also become a key part of the school’s Religious Education programme with three of the teachers training as Godly Play facilitators last year. Godly Play is a worldwide movement, created by Jerome Berryman, based on Montesorri ideals, through which children encounter and “play” with biblical stories and concepts.

AS A TEACHER TELLING THE STORIES, GODLY PLAY IS A ‘CHILDLIKE’ BUT SPIRITUAL WAY OF COMMUNICATING THE BIBLE STORIES.

Gabrielle Balemi, Director of Religious Studies, says, “As a teacher telling the stories, Godly Play is a ‘childlike’ but spiritual way of communicating the Bible stories. Because the stories are told in a visual, kinesthetic and oral way, it seems to make them come more alive for children.” After the story the children are actively encouraged to play with the story parts and to express their particular spirituality in their own play forum. Gabrielle says, “Each time I’ve told a Godly Play story the kids appear more engaged and even fascinated by the telling. Godly Play seems to me to be a more thoughtful and personal way of feeding children’s spirituality.”

Shelly Fitness would love to see Godly Play introduced into more Catholic schools. “We would never have known about Godly Play if our parish priest had not stumbled across it on the internet and encouraged us to find out more. It’s the kind of thing you really have to experience to understand. Any teachers are very welcome to come to one of our Godly Play sessions at any time.”

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton

F: @Catholic Diocese of Hamilton E: kete@cdh.org.nz Chanel Centre 51 Grey Street PO BOX 4353, Hamilton East, Hamilton 3216