Dedicating Space for Curiosity and Exploration
By turning a plain old hallway into a destination that every class visits regularly to tinker and play, a school made limited resources go further and saw student enthusiasm soar.
At Dyce Primary School in Aberdeen, Scotland, an ordinary corridor that was once used only to get from one place to another has become a treasure trove of resources where students construct, create, and explore new ideas. Each class has scheduled time in the makerspace-like “Construction Corridor” every week, where imaginations have a chance to run wild. Teachers observe the students at play during choice time there to note what’s drawing their attention and then tailor classroom instruction to tap into that interest. With the themes and activities in the corridor changing regularly, every visit makes the most of students’ natural desire for novelty—and the time there feels more special.
To learn more about the research behind the practices seen in the video, check out the links below.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics’ report on how play enhances development in young children (2018)
- Kayleigh Skene, Christine M. O’Farrelly, Elizabeth M. Byrne, Natalie Kirby, Eloise C. Stevens, and Paul G. Ramchandani’s meta-analysis and review on whether guidance during play can enhance children’s learning and development in educational contexts (2022)
- Rachel Parker, Bo Stjerne Thomsen, and Amy Berry’s article on learning through play at school (2022)
- Matthias J. Gruber and Yana Fandakova’s investigation of the neurological side of the positive effects of curiosity on learning and memory (2021)
- Judith M. Harackiewicz, Jessi L. Smith, and Stacy J. Priniski’s article advocating for the importance of interest in educational motivation (2016)
Dyce Primary School
Edutopia developed the Making Learning More Playful series with support from The LEGO Foundation.