Return to the Past: Teaching Cooperation through Play and Games of the Past Association of Childhood Education International April 13-15, 2006 Kathie Carwile Johnson, ED. D. Liberty University

Play is the Work of Childhood Children need to learn interaction and skills for interaction. Children need to learn interaction and skills for interaction. In the past children learned the life skills of human interaction through playing together. In the past children learned the life skills of human interaction through playing together.

Solitary Play Solitary play does teach skills Solitary play does teach skills Maneuvering strategy Maneuvering strategy Physical dexterity Physical dexterity Speed Speed It does not teach human interaction skills It does not teach human interaction skills Cooperation Cooperation Fairness Fairness Responsibility Responsibility

The Goal of Group Play should be to Teach Life Skills In the past play has prepared children for life by teaching: In the past play has prepared children for life by teaching: Fair play and Cooperation Fair play and Cooperation Compromise Compromise Roles Roles Mediation skills Mediation skills Responsibility Responsibility Character skills learned through play promote community and are universally accepted Character skills learned through play promote community and are universally accepted

What do we mean by cooperation? Working together to achieve a common goal (to win) Working together to achieve a common goal (to win) Enjoying others and building community Enjoying others and building community Learning to discuss options Learning to discuss options Compromising Compromising Allowing for differences Allowing for differences Mediation and Negotiation Mediation and Negotiation Resolving differences – Conflict resolution Resolving differences – Conflict resolution

Character Education “Knowing the good, desiring the good and doing the good.” Dr. Thomas Lickona, Educating for Character Moral virtue Moral virtue Prudence – sound judgment Prudence – sound judgment Justice – giving others their due Justice – giving others their due Fortitude – personal toughness Fortitude – personal toughness

And… Temperance – self-mastery Temperance – self-mastery Moral excellence – right conduct Moral excellence – right conduct Integrity – consistency Integrity – consistency (What I do when no one is looking.)

Virginia Law The 1999 General Assembly for the Commonwealth of Virginia enacted Senate Bill 817 directing each local school board to establish a character education program in its schools, the aim of which is… To improve the learning environment, To improve the learning environment, Promote student achievement Promote student achievement Reduce disciplinary problems, and Reduce disciplinary problems, and Develop civic-minded students of high character. Develop civic-minded students of high character.

Criteria for Development Stated that curriculum be: Developed in cooperation with the students, parents, and community at large Developed in cooperation with the students, parents, and community at large Specify character traits to be taught, selecting from those which are common to diverse social, cultural, and religious groups Specify character traits to be taught, selecting from those which are common to diverse social, cultural, and religious groups Avoid indoctrination of any religious or secondary levels. Avoid indoctrination of any religious or secondary levels.

And… Complement state Standards of Learning, be interwoven into existing curricula and taught primarily by example, illustration, and participation. Complement state Standards of Learning, be interwoven into existing curricula and taught primarily by example, illustration, and participation. Provide professional development and adequate resources. Provide professional development and adequate resources. Include a method for program evaluation. Include a method for program evaluation.

Basic Character Traits Taught May Include: Trustworthiness Trustworthiness Respect Respect Responsibility Responsibility Fairness Fairness Citizenship Citizenship Caring Caring

Trustworthiness Be honest; be real; be yourself Be honest; be real; be yourself Don’t deceive, cheat or steal Don’t deceive, cheat or steal Be reliable; do what you say you will do Be reliable; do what you say you will do Do the right thing, even when it hurts Do the right thing, even when it hurts Work on keeping a good reputation Work on keeping a good reputation Be loyal to family, friends, country, and those you work for Be loyal to family, friends, country, and those you work for

Respect Treat others with respect Treat others with respect Be tolerant of those different from you Be tolerant of those different from you Use good manners Use good manners Be considerate of others feelings Be considerate of others feelings Don’t hurt or threaten others Don’t hurt or threaten others Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements

Responsibility Do what you are supposed to do Do what you are supposed to do Keep on trying – persevere Keep on trying – persevere Do your best Do your best Use self-control Use self-control Think before you act, consider what might happen Think before you act, consider what might happen Be accountable for your choices Be accountable for your choices

Fairness Play by the rules Play by the rules Take turns and share what you have Take turns and share what you have Be open-minded, listen Be open-minded, listen Don’t take advantage of others Don’t take advantage of others Don’t blame others carelessly Don’t blame others carelessly

Citizenship Make the place you live a better place (school, city, state, country…) Make the place you live a better place (school, city, state, country…) Cooperate Cooperate Stay informed, participate, vote Stay informed, participate, vote Be a good neighbor Be a good neighbor Obey the rules and laws Obey the rules and laws Protect the environment Protect the environment

Caring Be kind Be kind Be compassionate, show you care Be compassionate, show you care Express thanks, say “thank you” Express thanks, say “thank you” Forgive others Forgive others Help others in need, responsibility Help others in need, responsibility

Traditional Play has always taught the skills of life Playground play was a way to assimilate and blend different cultures into a working group. Playground play was a way to assimilate and blend different cultures into a working group.

The Types of Games First Games First Games Games that pull two or more students together for interaction. Games with Rules Games with Rules Games that focus on the importance of the method of doing the game.

First Games - Pretend Games Moving from “side-by-side” play to interaction Games of Adventure Games of Adventure Action heros Action heros Cowboys/Indians Cowboys/Indians Cops/Robbers Cops/Robbers Super Heros Super Heros Role playing /dress-up Role playing /dress-up Mother/Daddy Mother/Daddy Doctor/Nurse Doctor/Nurse Teacher Teacher Princess Princess Bride Bride

First Games - Construction Play Blocks Blocks Legos Legos Dollhouses Dollhouses Vehicles Vehicles

First Games - Singing Games Teaches cooperation and listening London Bridge London Bridge Ring around the Rosy Ring around the Rosy Chants Chants Jump rope Jump rope Hop scotch Hop scotch Marching Marching

First Games – Finger Play Teach listening skill and fine motor control Examples: Where Is Thumbkin? Where Is Thumbkin? Insy-Wensy-Spider Insy-Wensy-Spider I’m a Little Teapot I’m a Little Teapot This Little Piggy This Little Piggy Finger puppets Finger puppets

Games with Rules Playing games with rules marks the child in transition from early childhood into middle childhood. These games teach societal mores and values. They are practice for life.

Middle Childhood “Follow the Rules” Strategy games Strategy games Skill games Skill games Cooperation games Cooperation games Intellectual Contests Intellectual Contests Guessing Games Guessing Games Q & A type Q & A type Bee type Bee type Board Games Board Games Card Games Card Games

Games of Strategy Teach interaction and cooperation among the group. Capture the Flag Capture the Flag Tag Tag Marbles Marbles Dominos Dominos Jacks Jacks Chess Chess

Games of Skill Soccer Soccer Basketball Basketball Ping Pong Ping Pong Horse Shoes Horse Shoes Darts Darts Marbles Marbles Jump rope Jump rope

Games of Cooperation Hand plays Hand plays Relays Relays Combination races Combination races Sack race Sack race Three legged race Three legged race Team race (passing baton) Team race (passing baton)

Guessing Games I Spy I Spy 50 Questions 50 Questions

Intellectual Contests Spelling Bees Spelling Bees Q & A Contest Q & A Contest Individual Individual Team Team Some board games Some board games Boggle Boggle Scrabble Scrabble

Board Games Monopoly Monopoly Boggle Boggle Candy Land Candy Land Chinese Checkers Chinese Checkers

Card Games Card Games teach patience, discussion, taking turns and strategy. Old Maid Old Maid Crazy Eights Crazy Eights Go Fish Go Fish UNO UNO

Games from the Past Teach Character/Moral Virtue For this generation, living with an unwavering standard is and will continue to be a challenge. Be an example – play with the students Be an example – play with the students Make expectations and directions clear Make expectations and directions clear Enforce the rules Enforce the rules Encourage interaction and discussion Encourage interaction and discussion