Promoting Oral Language Through Play

Aug 11, 2019 | class story

The Reception team have introduced the topic of Play Based Learning into their weekly routine as a tool to teach and enhance the students’ vocabulary and oral language skills.

BY MRS GWATKING’S RECEPTION CLASS

Play Based Learning happens three afternoons a week. Each week, the students work with a small group of their peers looking at a particular topic. The adult working with the group delivers explicit teaching and related activities to develop vocabulary related to the theme. Students are provided with fun, engaging resources to actively explore and are encouraged to utilise the new words they have learnt.

Having three sessions throughout the week on one particular theme allows the students to expand and build on their prior learning in each session and then get excited about exploring a new theme the following week.

The teachers have been working together to create tiered word lists, trial different methods of observing and recording students’ in their play, and developing quality strategies to effectively teach vocabulary.

The students are passionate and engaged by our Play Based Learning program. Some of their responses are below.

‘I like Play Based Learning because my friends and I played vets’ —Ethan

‘Play Based Learning helps us learn about the stuff that we are playing with’ —Mae

‘I like playing with my friends in Play Based Learning’ —Holly

‘Play Based Learning helped me play with some new people from Mr. Josh’s class’ —Alba

‘In Play Based Learning we cleaned inside and outside with cleaning things’ —Mason
‘Cooper and I read some books with Jayne about vets.’ —Mackenzie

‘I loved the cleaning week and we helped the school’ —Jaxson

‘My group is helping and learning about the garden’ —Acacia

‘I made some new friends in Play Based Learning’ —Matilda

‘We played in a tent and learnt about compasses’ —Oliver

‘When we did doctors, I was the patient and I broke my leg’ —Gracie

‘We built a zoo with lots of blocks and lots of different animals’ —Paige

‘I used a comb and a hairdryer to do Matilda’s hair in Hairdressers’ —Ben

‘We played with water and put sea creatures in it’ —Bodhi

Latest Porties Post stories:
Parent Update — End of Term 1, 2025

Parent Update — End of Term 1, 2025

The latest Parent Update from our Principal is now available to download and read. This Parent Update contains: Principal's Message Staffing news Term 2 key dates School Improvement Plan Way2Go Excursion payments and more. Parent Update — End of Term 1, 2025 A printed...

SAFM Rocks a Classroom at Porties

SAFM Rocks a Classroom at Porties

While listening to the radio, Jack C heard Bernie and Emma G announce a back-to-school competition on SAFM. He entered—and won! The excitement didn't stop there, as the SAFM team visited Port Noarlunga Primary School. Miss Clarke’s class had a booming Thursday in Term...

Speed Stacker Finn and Porties on The Project TV

Speed Stacker Finn and Porties on The Project TV

Finn’s Lightning-Fast Skills Take Him to the World Stage! ⚡🏆 A speed-stacking sensation has taken Port Noarlunga Primary by storm—and it’s none other than Year 2 student Finn, who’s stacking his way to the top! Finn has been selected to join the Australian Lightning...

Parent Expo25 Downloads

Parent Expo25 Downloads

The Porties parent Expo took place in Term 1 this year, offering multiple stations of teachers and staff members with information and handouts illustrating how the year will look in classrooms and around the school. Couldn't make it to our Parent Expo, or just looking...



Archive