Transform early childhood learning environments into landscapes for play! This professional development resource provides practical strategies that create playful learning opportunities to meet students' diverse needs.

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Cover -- Copyright page -- Page v -- Table of Contents -- Page Vi -Table of Contents -- Page Vii -- Table of Contents -- Page Viii -- Table of Contents Cont. -- Page ix -- Acknowledgments -- Page 1 -- Introduction: The Invitation -- Page 2 -Responding to the Invite and Wrapping the Gift -- Page 3 -Accepting the Invite -- Page 4 -- Unwrapping the Gift -- Page 5 -- How to Unwrap This Gift -- Page 9 -- Chapter 1. Exploring the Landscape of Play -- Page 10 -- Play as a Right -- Page 11 -- What Is Play? -- Page 13 -- Why Is Play Important? -- Page 15 -- What Are Play-Based Approaches to Learning? Page 20 -- Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Play -- Page 25 -- Uncovering Biases and Assumptions -- Page 27 -- Additional Considerations -- Page 30 -- Gifts of Learning -- Page 33 -- Chapter 2. Creating Spaces That Speak -- Page 34 -- Mapping Memories -- Page 35 -- The Environment Is a Teacher -- Page 36 -- Elements of the Learning Environment -- Page 44 -- Disrupting Spaces That Silence -- Page 45 -- Rights to Spaces -- Pge 54 -- Designing Spaces -- Page 62 -- Living within Spaces That Speak -- Page 63 -- Shifting Spaces -- Page 64 -- Additional Considerations -- Page 67 -- Gifts of Learning Page 71 -- Chapter 3. Playful Pieces -- Page 72 -- The Theory of Loose Parts -- Page 72 -- The Great Debate: Toys versus Loose Parts -- Page 74 -- The Power to Manipulate -- Page 75 -- Leveraging Loose Parts -- Page 78 -- Loose Parts and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy -- Page 79 -- The Seven Types of Loose Parts -- Page 80 -- The Language of Schema -- Page 82 -- Creating Conditions for Play with Loose Parts -- Page 83 -- Scaffolding Loose Parts -- Page 83 -- Creating Intentional Experiences with Loose Parts -- Page 88 -- Comprehensive Loose Parts Programming -- Page 89 -- Strategic Actions for Loose Parts Page 90 -- Engaging with Loose Parts -- Page 91 -- Safety in the Learning Environment -- Page 92 -- Additional Considerations -- Page 95 -- Gifts of Learning -- Page 97 -- Chapter 4. Inviting Learning -- Page 98 -- What Is an Invitation for Learning? -- Page 100 -- Preparing the Gift -- Page 104 -- What Are the Components of an Invitation for Learning? -- Page106 -- Opportunities for Learning -- Page 108 -- How Should We Offer Invitations in Our Learning Spaces? -- Page 110 -- Responsive Learning Opportunities -- Page 111 -- Identifying De-invitations -- Page 117 -- Additional Considerations Page 120 -- Gifts of Learning -- Page 123 -- Chapter 5. Planning with Purpose -- Page 124 -- The Gift That Keeps on Giving -- Page 127- Follow Learners' Interests -- Page 128 -- Select a Text, a Photo, or an Artifact, and Connect It to the Curriculum -- Page 129 -- Develop a Question -- Page 132 -- Consider the Materials -- Page 133 -- Organize and Market -- Page 135 -- Assess and Reflect -- Page.135 -- A Call to Action -- Page 139 -- Regifting Invitations for Learning -- Page 144 -- Additional Considerations -- Page 148 -- Gifts of Learning -- Page 151 -- Chapter 6. Playful Assessments Page 156 -- What Moments Should We Capture?