YES. Play should be a big part of 4K. In fact, children learn best through play. The SPAPSD's 4K curriculum is based upon a play based learning environment. However, play in 4K should look different than "free for all play" as it should be intentionally planned. A nice venue for play in 4K is the dramatic play center. In a dramatic play center, teachers set up the learning environment based on real world experiences. For example, to start the school year, a teacher may create a school bus out of a large cardboard box and allow students to "play" in the bus for a period of time. Ideally, print is incorporated into the center and appropriate play skills are modeled. For more information about play in 4K, please read Today's Play…Tomorrow's Success! In the dramatic play area, two 4K students are pretending to take an order at a restaurant. The classroom teacher notices that neither student has assumed the role of "waiter." So, she takes the notepad and pencil strategically placed in the area and asks, "May I take your order?" She writes what the students say and proceeds to prepare their order for them. Over the next few days, several other students join in the restaurant play. Waiters set tables, take orders, prepare and serve food, and clean up all based upon the model that the teacher provided. Through this process, a few important skills are developed: vocabulary and language, social emotional readiness, and early literacy and math skills, just to name a few.
