Letting Play Lead the Way

W236N7465 Woodside Road,Sussex WI 53089

15 March, 2022

Description

Is play on the verge of distinction? For a number of reasons, play is on the verge of extinction in not only our classrooms, but in our home lives as well. Yet, time and time again, research proves play is essential to healthy social, emotional, physical, and academic development. So why is play disappearing? And more importantly, what can we do about it? Join teacher and author, Peter Dargatz, and explore the power of play. About the presenter: While his claim to fame might be as a retired racing sausage for the Milwaukee Brewers, Peter Dargatz is prouder for being a father of three nature-loving children, a national board certified teacher, and the coordinator of a well-respected, public school nature kindergarten program at Woodside Elementary in Sussex, Wisconsin. Transitioning his classroom from the inside to outside has allowed him to create and develop his “4P’s” philosophy, focusing on play-based, place-based, project-based, and personalized learning. This philosophy’s foundations are cemented in play, citizen science, service learning, and community collaborations. Along with the nature kindergarten program. Peter is coordinator for an all-school collaboration with the Retzer Nature Center and a district-wide family nature club. He is also the volunteer coordinator for the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Tyke Hike program, aimed at getting families of young children out in nature using Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Wisconsin Nature-Based Early Childhood Association (WINBECA), board member for the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education, a contributing author to Natural Start Alliance’s Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook, and a regular columnist for Play & Playground magazine. Peter’s first book, Teaching Off Trail, was released by Redleaf Press in November, 2021. He also just started a podcast with the same name.