EDU 578: The Role of Play in Integrated Education

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

25%

Assignments (Weeks 1-7)

50%

Final Project (Week 8)

25%

Total

100%

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1

Topics: Foundations of Play and Child Development

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Young Children’s Play, Chapter 1
  • Read The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education(California Department of Education, Sacramento, 2021)sections:
    • • Introduction (pp. 1–8)
      • What Is Meant by the Word ‘Play’?
      • The Play-Based Learning Continuum
      • Why Is Play Important for Young Children?
      • Myths About Play
  • Read How Young Children's Play Promotes Healthy Development(Keough, 2025)
  • Read Accessing the Inaccessible: Redefining Play as a Spectrum(Zosh, Gaudreau, Michnick Golinkoff, Hirsh-Pasek, 2018)
  • Read The Power of Playful Learning in the Early Childhood Setting(Zosh, Gaudreau, Michnick Golinkoff, Hirsh-Pasek, 2022)
  • View Content-Integrated Learning | OSPI[Video] (waOSPI, 2023)

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Play Observation and Developmental Analysis

2

1,3

Topics: Types of Play, Culture, and Diversity

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Young Children’s Play, Chapters 2 and 3
  • Read The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education(California Department of Education, Sacramento, 2021)Part 2
  • Read What is inclusive play?(Sensory Trust, 2020)

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Play, Culture, and Inclusion Analysis

3

2,5

Topics: Adult–Child Interactions, Guided Play, and Play Intervention

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Young Children’s Play, Chapter 4
  • Read The OREO Method(Ealing Early Years Quality Paternship, n.d.)
  • Read Implementing Stay-Play-Talk in Early Childhood Classrooms(NCPMI, 2019)
  • Review The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education(California Department of Education, Sacramento, 2021)sections:
    • Designing Play Spaces as Contexts for Learning
    • Planning Conversations and Interactions That Occur During Play
    • Observing, Documenting, and Interpreting Play
    • Traveling Companions in Children's Search for Meaning
    • The Hundred Languages of Children
    • Engaging Families in Play-Based Learning
  • Review Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0. CAST. (2024). Review the overview and graphic organizer, with attention to how UDL can support inclusive participation, communication, agency, and access during play-based learning.

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Play Interaction Analysis: Learning Through Observation and Responsive Support

4

1,2

Topics: Play in Infancy and Toddlerhood;

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Young Children’s Play, Chapter 5
  • Read Playing to Learn: Supporting Play-Based Learning With Infants and Toddlers(Martinez, 2024)
  • Read Rocking and Rolling. Promoting Inclusion in Infant and Toddler Settings(Parlakian, 2021)
  • Read Creating Playful Learning Environments for Infants and Toddlers(Adams, 2026)
  • Read Supporting Children’s Learning Through Play(gov, n.d.)
  • Review Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0. CAST. (2024)

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Analyzing and Supporting Play in Infancy and Toddlerhood

5

2,4

Topics: Play in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Young Children’s Play, Chapter 6
  • Read Embracing Learning Through Play(Ross, 2023)
  • Read CAST UDL Guideline 7 Welcoming Interests and Identities
    • Consideration 7.1 Optimize choice and autonomy
    • Consideration 7.2 Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity
    • Consideration 7.3 Nurture joy and play
    • Consideration 7.4 Address biases, threats, and distractions
  • Review Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0. CAST. (2024)

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Designing a Standards-Aligned Play Experience

6

2,4,5

Topics: Play in Primary Grades and Inclusive Learning Environments

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Young Children’s Play, Chapter 7
  • Read Learning Through Play at School: A Framework for Policy and Practice (Parker & Thompson, 2019) sections:
    • Executive Summary (pp. 6–14)
    • Chapter 4: A Model for Learning Through Play at School (pp. 48–55)
    • As you read, consider the following questions:
      • How does the report define learning through play?
      • What distinguishes playful learning from traditional instruction?
      • How can playful learning support academic standards?
      • What features should be present in a standards-aligned play experience?
  • Read A Pedagogy of Play(Mardell et. al, 2023)
    • Chapter 1: Six Principles of Playful Learning
    • Chapter 2: Play as a Strategy for Learning
    • Chapter 3: What Does Playful Learning in Schools Look and Feel Like?
  • Review Developmentally Appropriate Practice Position Statement (NAEYC, 2020), sections:
    • Teaching to Enhance Development and Learning
    • Planning and Implementing an Engaging Curriculum to Achieve Meaningful Goals
  • Review Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0. CAST. (2024)

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Designing and Defending a Standards-Aligned Play Experience

7

3,4,6

Topics: Assessment, Equity, and Advocacy in Play-Based Learning

• Read and Review:
  
  • Read Learning Through Play at School: A Framework for Policy and Practice (Parker & Thompson, 2019), Implementation Quality Factors (pp. 56–63)
  • Read A Pedagogy of Play(Mardell et. al, 2023), Chapter 4 section: The Role of Documentation in Making Playful Learning Visible
  • Review NAEYC DAP Position Statement (NAEYC, 2020)
  • Review NAEYC Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education(NAEYC, 2019)
  • Review DEC/NAEYC Early Childhood Inclusion(NAEYC, 2009)
  • Review NAEYC Code of Ethics(NAEYC, 2025)
  • Review NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies(NAEYC, 2019)especially Standard 6: Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Assignment - Advocating for Equitable and Inclusive Play-Based Learning

8

1-6

Topics: Integrating Play into Professional Practice

• Read and Review:
  • Read A Pedagogy of Play(Mardell et. al, 2023)
    • Chapter 5: Creating a Schoolwide Culture of Playful Learning
    • Chapter 6: Playful Learning for All
  • Review Course notes, readings, and resources from Weeks 1–7
  • Review Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators

• Read assigned material
• Review the lecture material
• Participate in Discussion Board
• Submit Final Project - Play-Based Integrated Learning Project & Professional Advocacy Artifact
• Complete Course Evaluation