Free Play (Intro)
Pre-primary
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Session Name
Let's Explore!
Age Group
Ages 3-5
Session Intention
Children meet the free play kit and explore materials freely and safely for the first time.
Materials Needed
Free Play Kit
Classroom Arrangement
1. This session can happen in an open space like a hall or ground in the school
2. Open the free play kit and place materials in 2-3 loose clusters in any open floor space or along a bench.
2. No fixed stations - children gather where the materials are.
3. Children play individually or drift into small clusters of 4-6 on their own.
1/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Opening Procedure (5-7 minutes)
PEP-UP: Name and Action (2-3 min)
1. Each child says their name with an action.
2. Everyone copies it after them.
3. One action per child.
FREE PLAY NORMS (1 min):
1. Share the games.
2. Wait for your turn.
3. Be kind to each other.
4. Do not break the materials.
5. Pack everything properly when done.
6. Add: These rules stay the same even when no teacher or facilitator is watching.
More Pep-up Options
2/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Play Time (~25-28 minutes)
START PLAY:
1. Tell the children they can walk to any station and start playing.
2. Tell the children they can move to another one whenever you want.
3. Step back. Do not tell children how to use the materials.
DURING PLAY:
1. Walk around and watch. Do not interrupt children who are playing.
2. If a child looks lost, sit next to them and pick up an object. Look curious. They will usually join in.
3. If two children want the same thing, name what you see - You both want this. What can you do?
STEP IN WHEN NEEDED:
1. Child throwing or hitting with materials - calmly move them to a different station.
2. One station overcrowded - Go to another set of materials. Ask a few children to come there and begin playing with them.
3. Never tell a child their play is wrong.
What You May Notice
1. Some children will not know what to do at first. This is completely normal.
2. Many will just carry objects around or stack and drop things. This IS play.
3. Pretend play with the kitchen set or puppets often starts very quickly.
4. Some children will want to take materials to their seats. Let them.
3/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Closing (~3-5 minutes)
1. Give a two-minute warning.
2. Gather in a circle.
3. Say I saw someone build something and knock it down. So fun! What did YOU play with today?
4. Hear from 3-4 children.
5. Pack up together. Make it quick and cheerful.
Try Next Time
1. Introduce one new way to play with a material each time you run this session.
2. Ask children what rules they want to add or change.
3. Let children explore and invent ways to play.