Owasso Elementary Students Focus On Play-Based Learning With Day Of Play

Students at an Owasso Elementary school ditched worksheet and technology and traded them for learning that's based on play, for one day.

The assistant principal said this is to encourage kids to be engaged with each other and work together.

"Say we have a multiplication game, which we did in our pod, so you can play it and you're learning, and you are still having fun, so that's why they did it," said third grader Aurora Smith.

The students spent the entire day doing different activities all focused on play.

Assistant principal Anne Cates said she heard about the idea at a conference and knew her staff was creative enough to make it happen.

"There's a time and a place for all types of teaching styles and teaching methods, but this would be a way to have the kids more engaged with us," she said.

She said with so much of the world focused on technology, this gives kids a break.

She said technology can be isolating, and this helps kids work together and engage in the lessons.

"It forces them to start interacting in ways that we can help facilitate conversations, taking turns, being a good winner, being a good loser, just helping work through some of those things," she said.

Aurora said it was a great day. She loved getting to do something different and fun at school.

"I kind of miss it, but I am happy to be doing something else," she said.

Cates said she hopes to do this twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, and hopes other Owasso schools will join.