Integrating Learning, Teaching and Play in Primary School

This chapter examines how integrated learning, teaching, and play intersect in primary education. It argues that adopting a holistic view of children’s learning and development, and embedding this perspective in a pedagogy of play, supports growth across the curriculum as well as in cognitive, emotional, and physical domains. Rather than treating play as a separate, non-academic activity, the chapter positions it as a powerful, integrative pedagogy that complements and enriches formal learning. Drawing on research, it demonstrates how play and playful approaches can deepen understanding, enhance motivation, and cultivate essential skills such as communication and creativity. The chapter also provides ideas for how children’s learning through play could occur across subject areas and outlines strategies teachers can use to align teaching, assessment, and play in ways that honour the learning process. Finally, it introduces a continuum of play and playful learning experiences as a framework for integrating teaching and learning, helping children engage more deeply with curriculum content and real-world issues.