Children learn when they play. So do adults, and as part of my goal of making life long learners out of my students, I am trying to encourage play in my classes. Not in place of learning, but to reinforce it.
This is a combination of group assignments, story-telling, and a bit of adventure. Last year I thought of it as "project-based learning" but this year I am fine with calling it simply "play." Among other things, it helps me keep my head where it needs to be. I am not entertaining them, but giving them opportunities to find themselves excited and taking learning as if it were a quest for the Grail, with all the companionship and none of the dragons.
Follow the gilded path over the fold.