On February 7, 2024, classrooms around the world transformed into hubs of excitement and imagination as they celebrated the Global School Play Day. This year Norway Intermediate 4th graders were excited to spend their afternoon participating and dedicating their time to fun, creativity, and socialization. Classroom desks were pushed to the side and traditional lesson plans were replaced with opportunities for unstructured exploration and discovery.
According to https://globalschoolplayday.com/ Global Day of Play was created by a group of educators in 2015. They knew that learning from play was important for social, emotional, and cognitive development. Their mission is that participants are encouraged to allow students ample time for free play without the use of screens, structured games, or adult direction. The idea is to let children explore their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment.
In a world often dominated by screens and digital distractions, the Global Day of Play served as a powerful reminder of the importance of taking time to play, connect, and create. Our 4th graders demonstrated that even though they are older, the need to learn from play is still there. This day was unforgettable as we got to watch students embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and connect through play.
