Educator Workshop: Day of Play

(6 PDPs) Join the Carle Education Staff and The Center Dance Studio for a full-day workshop celebrating the value and joy of play. Participants will explore play from multiple perspectives and engage in hands-on learning across museum spaces. In rotating breakout sessions focused on art making, creative movement, and visual thinking, participants will experiment, reflect, and consider how to apply their discoveries to support play in the classroom and beyond. 

Workshop suggested for educators working with ages 0-8. Lunch and resource packet included. See below for more details about the sessions and schedule.

A limited number of workshop spots are free for Hampden County early childhood educators through The Davis Foundation. These scholarships are awarded on a first come first serve basis and are due November 3. Click the link below to apply.

Carle Community Fund Scholarship Application

We work to provide accessible programming. If you need accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Natalie at programs@carlemuseum.org. We ask that requests are sent at least five business days in advance of the program so we can make arrangements. Thank you!

Breakout Sessions

Dancing Stories: Picture Books and Creative Movement, with The Center Dance Studio Directors Ashley and Caddy Carlisle

How can we combine physical play and storytelling to support early learning? Using picture books as inspiration, we will explore creative movement and narrative dance as ways to interpret and share stories. After some stretching, reading, and dancing, participants will reflect on these activities and consider how to apply and adapt them to support learning and literacy across ages, contexts, and spaces. 

Pictures at Play: Exploring and Inviting Play in the Galleries, with Carle Director of Education Courtney Waring

What does play look like in the art galleries? Looking at and responding to original works of art provides multiple opportunities for play, from individual inquiry to collaborative expression. In this session, educators will enjoy exploring the varied ways we can use art as a springboard for curiosity through close looking, artmaking, creative writing, and dramatic play.  

Material Play: Setting the Stage for Experimentation, with Carle Art Educators Meghan Minior and Brittany Waseleski

How do we nurture experimentation and open-ended play through art making? Experimentation is an essential part of playful learning, where we learn to explore and navigate boundaries within a safe environment. In this session we will experiment with a variety of accessible, sustainable, and surprising materials and tools– all inviting us to make unexpected discoveries and connections. 

Schedule