Preschool Leaders Share Insight to St. Margaret’s Play-Based Curriculum at National Conference

St. Margaret’s Early Childhood Development Center Director Cris Lozon and ECDC teacher Lore Fredette were in Harrisonburg, Va., last week, presenting at the annual conference of The Association for the Study of Play.

 

During their “Ramping it Up” presentation, Dr. Lozon and Mrs. Fredette shared current research on play that drives St. Margaret’s Preschool curriculum. They also shared insights and documentation of a specific play-based experience at St. Margaret’s from this school year—a lengthy project led by Mrs. Fredette in which St. Margaret’s Preschool students’ quest to have a tricycle ramp led to play-based learning that worked on science, math, literacy, problem-solving, teamwork and more. Students measured space, polled classmates on color preferences, met with Dr. Lozon to obtain written permission, and helped build the ramp with the help of a parent.

 

The annual conference of TASP gathers play theorists, practitioners, policy makers and advocates for a three-day gathering around the concept of play as a powerful learning tool.