Building Blocks of Play

Aliya Jaffari

Workshop Description and Delivery:

This is delivered through Pangea SparkEd: Borderless Learning and Chughtai Institute of Leadership and Learning. Participants will explore the principles and practices of play-based learning with emphasis on the child as a capable learner, the educator as a guide, and the environment as the “third teacher.” Drawing on the philosophies of Reggio Emilia and the IB Early Years Programme, the series will highlight how play fosters inquiry, creativity, agency, and holistic development. Practical strategies for designing, documenting, and extending play will be demonstrated, with opportunities for participants to apply them in their own settings. The aim is for educators to leave with a deeper understanding of play as pedagogy, strategies to create inquiry-rich environments, and tools to align play-based learning with curriculum.

Upon completion, participants will be certified as Pangea SparkEd’s Play-Based Learning Practitioners.

We recommend that two or more colleagues from the same school attend together for deeper, contextual learning.

Location: Online    Time: 1.5 hours

Learning Outcomes:

In this course participants will be able to:

• Discuss the role of play in children’s learning and development.
• Connect play-based dispositions with your teaching philosophy and school values.
• Design plans that integrate play-based learning into daily practice.

Who should attend:

Educators and program leaders who want to integrate play-based learning into their teaching practice. Curriculum coordinators and administrators interested in understanding what  the practical application of Reggio Emilia and IB Early Years approaches looks like.

What will you take away:

• Foundational understanding for play-based learning.

• Tools that can be integrated into any early years curriculum.

• Professional networking with a global community of educators.

Session 1: Play as the starting point | Thursday, October 9th 2025

Session 2: Children as thinkers, educators, and co-learners | Thursday, October 23th 2025

Session 3: Spaces that spark learning | Thursday, November 6th 2025

Each online session will run for 1.5 hours. Participants should plan to spend 45 mins on

pre-workshop reading and reflection and at least 45 mins on post-workshop application and documentation. This model is unique as it creates space for practical application of strategies and problem solving within a professional learning community. The workshop facilitators will host one office hour session with the CIS instructional coach and educators to initiate their Play as Pedagogy: Our Approach document.

Workshop Facilitator

Aliya Jaffery

Samara, is a special educator with a deep understanding of and respect for children’s

natural diversity of minds. Her work centers on creating inclusive, nurturing spaces where

all learners are celebrated. Aliya is a constructivist educator and literacy specialist. A play advocate and a former IB PYP Coordinator, she leads professional development guiding educators to implement

meaningful, globally-minded learning experiences. Together, Samara and Aliya form a powerful partnership Pangea SparkEd, blending expertise in play-based learning, inclusion, literacy, and inquiry, that inspires educators, strengthens practice, and yields meaningful, lasting results for children’s learning.