Deborah Lindbergh Case Study
St. Anne’s Belfield School is a private school in Virginia unique for its outdoor and play-based approach. “When children are actively engaged in the natural world around them, the learning has more meaning for each student and therefore they have a deeper understanding of the subject matter,” the preschool director illuminates. Deborah Lindbergh, a seasoned preschool teacher with ten enthusiastic students, exemplifies this approach. During the pandemic, the school transitioned classes to outdoor cottages which have been an integral part of the learning experience since. Lindbergh shares how she used Playful Learning to integrate outdoor and indoor learning experiences for curious young minds.
Realistic Pictures, Real Learning
“I love how realistic the pictures [in Playful Learning] are. I think they’re beautiful. I am not a fan of cartoons. I think they’re cute and they have a place, but not when kids can identify birds. We had a birdhouse right outside our cottage, and the birds were coming right up and eating. They tell me what kind of birds they are.”
Lindbergh highlights the significance of realistic pictures as they engage and captivate the children’s imagination, especially when students at St. Anne’s Belfield School interact with the natural world everyday. When her students have the capability of identifying birds, it’s essential that she provides them with resources that match the natural environment.
Lindbergh laminates the Playful Learning field guides and equips her students with dry erase markers as they explore the outdoors. The children venture into the school’s natural surroundings on scavenger hunts, identifying, observing, and drawing various plants, insects, and animals. At the same time that the children interact with the natural world, they build their multiple skills such as observation, fine motor, writing, and vocabulary.
A Variety of Playful Learning Lessons
Lindbergh highlights the importance of designing play-based experiences for her students, using natural materials, manipulatives, and loose parts among other things. Naturally, she supplements her students’ learning experiences with various playful learning lessons.
Life Cycles, Insects, and Rocks
When her class acquired a baby chick incubator, Lindbergh used playful learning materials focused on life cycles. Through these materials, the children gained a deeper understanding of how living organisms grow and develop, fostering a sense of responsibility and empathy. Lindbergh also introduced Playful Learning materials related to insects and rocks.
Polar Bear Footprint
Using a playful learning material showcasing a polar bear’s footprint, Lindbergh engaged her students in an exciting comparative activity. The children compared the polar bear’s footprint with their own feet, fostering curiosity around size, adaptation, and biodiversity.
By combining realistic pictures, outdoor exploration, and interactive lessons, Lindbergh has created a dynamic learning environment where students flourish. Her case study serves as an inspiring example of how Playful Learning can nurture a lifelong love for learning and foster a meaningful understanding of the world around us.
Impact of Playful Learning
Students: Research has shown that with these young students, engaging experiences have the most impact on their learning. To measure this, Lindberg implemented a three-point Likert Scale with her students, a common means of assessing attitude about activities or content with young children. As they completed 23 Playful Learning activities, 94% of students rated the use of the activities as a very happy or happy experience.
Teachers: In a comprehensive survey, teachers unanimously rated Playful Learning as invaluable for young learners. Lindberg shared “I have subscribed to Playful Learning for a few years now. I was initially drawn to the curriculum because of the use of real/realistic pictures. So many preschool curriculums use cutesy illustrations with animals wearing clothes and smiles.” She went on to say
“I am so appreciative of the access to this curriculum. I am always trying to grow professionally and to improve my teaching and I feel this curriculum provides that opportunity.”
Parents: Lindberg’s parents were excited about their children using Playful Learning in their school: “The highlight of my week is when William brings home his portfolio from school! He very proudly takes out each item one by one and tells me all about each piece of artwork. Even if we are out to eat, he will ask to bring his portfolio into the restaurant as he doesn’t want to miss that end-of-week opportunity to show us all of his creations.”
