This document invites researchers to study play, science, and education. It discusses how play is important for children's learning and outlines different types of play. It also lists professional organizations and companies that promote play through resources and research. Examples are given of previous research on play and science learning. Finally, the document suggests areas for further research connections such as science learning through play and the role of play in combating childhood obesity.

1. Come Play with Me: An Invitation for Research in Play, Science, and Education Debora B. Wisneski, PhD University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee National Association for Research in Science Teaching 2011 Annual Conference Orlando, Florida

2. Deep meaning lies often in childish play. - Johann Friedrich von Schiller Children at play are not playing about. Their games should be seen as their most serious minded activity. - Michel de Montaigne “It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” -Leo F. Buscaglia

3. Forms of Play Valued and Researched in Education Discovery/Functional Pretend/Socio-dramatic Games with Rules Constructive, building & creating Physical Rough and Tumble Social Play Parallel, Associative, Cooperative Play –Based Curriculum Models Montessori Waldorf High Scope, Piagetian based Kindergarten The Project Approach Tools of the Mind, Vygotskian Approach Reggio Emilia, social constructivist theoretical perspective

4. Professional Organizations Promoting Play through Resources, Research, and Publications Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) http://acei.org/ The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) http://tasplay.org/ International Play Association (IPA) http://ipaworld.org/ US Coalition for Play http://usplaycoalition.clemson.edu/ National Institute for Play http://nifplay.org/

5. Corporations and Non-Profit Organizations Play Core http://www.playcore.com/ KaBoom! http://kaboom.org/ Boundless Playgrounds http://www.boundlessplaygrounds.org/

6. Examples of Research and Practice on Play and Science Fleer, M. (2008). Understanding the dialectical relations between everyday concepts and scientific concepts within play-based programs. Research in Science Education, 39, (2), 281-306. Hamlin, M., & Wisneski,D. (Forthcoming). Supporting scientific thinking and inquiry through play. Young Children Jarret, O.S., & Burnley, P. (2010). Lessons on the role of fun/playfulness from a geology undergraduate summer research program. Journal of Geoscience Education, 58,( 2), 213-220. Potential Research connections Science Learning through play The Science of Play Current Hot Topics Play’s role in combating childhood obesity Playful learning in the content areas

7. Further Reading in Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Play Research Commonwealth of Australia. 2009. Why science and play? http://scienceplay.questacon.edu.au/why.html. File, N., Wisneski, D.B., Mueller, J. (Eds.) (2011).Curriculum in early childhood education: Re-examined, rediscovered, renewed. New York, NY: Routledge.