Our Learning Through Play Journey

 

At Ōpoutere School, we embrace a learning through play approach as a valuable way for our students to learn and grow. This pedagogical method is a core part of our junior school experience, where play is a powerful mode of teaching and learning that helps develop the values and key competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum. We connect play to learning areas and to the foundational principles of Te Whāriki, building on the learning journeys children have already begun in early childhood.

 

The Power of Play
Our learning through play approach is designed to foster a wide range of skills as students progress through the different stages of their development:
Social and Emotional Coaching: Play helps children develop resilience as they navigate conflicts and setbacks. Teachers provide guidance and feedback, while also knowing when to step back and allow students to learn problem-solving, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation on their own.
Invitations and Provocations: We thoughtfully design our learning environment with "invitations" that encourage students to explore, investigate, and create. These are often open-ended arrangements of materials that spark curiosity. We also use "provocations"—specific prompts and loose parts—to encourage new thoughts and ideas that may not have been seen in students' play before.
 

Age-Specific Development
Kōwhai (Years 0/1): Our youngest students make a smooth transition to school thanks to a continuous curriculum that builds on their early childhood education.
Rimu (Years 2/3): Play-based learning encourages student agency and leads to deeper engagement, allowing students to take ownership of their learning.
Pūriri (Year 4): Play contributes to a child's well-being and helps develop intrapersonal skills such as self-esteem, motivation, and resilience.
Tōtara (Years 5/6): Play-based learning often requires interaction with others, giving students opportunities to practice interpersonal skills like cooperation, negotiation, and empathy.
Kauri (Years 7/8): At the senior level, play-based activities enable students to engage in flexible and higher-level thinking, including problem-solving, analysis, and innovation.