As part of Pacem School’s 10th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 22nd, they are hosting a talk by noted educational psychologist Peter Gray entitled “Play and Learning: What Exactly is Play and Why is It Such a Powerful Vehicle for Learning?” The talk will be in the College Hall Chapel at the VT College of Fine Arts at 6:30 pm.
Preceding Peter Gray’s talk, all are invited to join the celebration of the first 10 years of inspirational education at Pacem School. There will be activities for the young and young at heart (an obstacle course, poetry collage activity, math treasure hunt, face painting, photo booth, crafts, games, and more), a birthday circle, pizza for sale from Woodbelly Pizza, and cake and ice cream. More information can be found on the website at http://pacemschool.org/10th-anniversary/
Here are the details of Peter Gray’s talk:
Play and Learning: What Exactly is Play, and Why Is It Such a Powerful Vehicle for Learning? A talk by noted educational psychologist Peter Gray
Saturday October 22, 6:30 pm
Vermont College of Fine Arts, College Hall Chapel
suggested donation $10
"Play" is a word that we use commonly to refer to children's preferred activities and to some adult activities. But what, really, is play? In this talk Peter Gray will define play as activity that is (1) self-chosen and self-directed; (2) motivated by means more than ends; (3) guided by mental rules; (4) includes a strong element of imagination; and (5) is conducted in an alert, active, but relatively non-stressed frame of mind. He will describe these characteristics and show how each of them contributes to play’s educational and developmental value. He will explain why play came about, in natural selection, to promote children’s healthy physical, intellectual, social, moral, and emotional growth and will describe the psychological detriments that have accompanied the decline of play in recent decades. His talk will address play in children of all ages including teens.
Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College, has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. His recent research has focused on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration, when they are free to do so. His most recent book is Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life and he authors a blog for Psychology Today magazine entitled “Freedom to Learn.” Professor Gray is a frequent invited speaker on topics related to democratic schooling, home-based self-directed learning, the nature of childhood, and the developmental value of free play.