By bringing playful approaches into the classroom, teachers can engage more students at a deeper level, improve learning environments, and boost motivation.

Research shows that taking a more playful approach in the classroom could benefit students. But what does it mean to bring learning and play together, for students of all ages? For the Making Learning More Playful video series, we traveled to five schools in four countries to discover some of the characteristics of playful learning. Along the way, we saw a lot of great examples: students engaged in meaningful, hands-on projects; dancing and moving during active, energetic lessons; learning in the outdoors; collaborating to do great iterative work, driven by curiosity and passion; and even playful assessment. The common thread was clear—when more play is intentionally built into teaching and learning, students are enthusiastic and focused, agency and ownership soars, and the classroom environment is a joyful one.