Fun Ideas for Small World Play in the ESL Classroom

Through small world play, children have the opportunity to explore different cultures and lifestyles in a safe and fun environment. Small world play also allows children to learn about cooperation and problem solving as they work together to build their small world. As children learn about different cultures and people through small world play, they also learn to appreciate the differences that make us all unique.

A small world play area can be created with recycled materials. Try using different materials to create texture and interest in your small world play area. Use old tins, cardboard boxes, and bottles to create houses, castles, and skyscrapers for small world play.
Get creative and use your imagination to come up with other ideas for small world play.

Learning opportunities:

• Create stories and take on roles.

• Use their imagination during pretend play.

• Make use of available resources to create props to support their play.

• Recount known stories based in a home setting.

• Make use of props when role playing characters in stories they know or have created.

• Talk about their experiences and how to include them in their play.

• Explore new vocabulary related to stories, scenarios and equipment found in the role-play area.

• Use new vocabulary in different contexts.

• Use longer sentences to describe what they are doing.

• Talk about their ideas and organise their play.

• Explore and use a range of social phrases during role-play activities.

• Hold conversations to continue and develop role-play activities.

• Ask and answer questions within a small group situation.

• Express their ideas and take into account other children’s ideas.

• Use language to create narratives.

• Select and use resources to develop and enhance play ideas.

• Develop confidence to explore and create new scenarios and situations.

• Play with one or more friends to develop, extend and elaborate play ideas.

• Work together to find solutions to problems or conflicts. For example,

suggesting different roles to take on during role-play activities.


Key questions

• Do you need anything else?

• How could we make…?

• What do you know about…?

• What might happen next?

• What would you like me to do?

• I wonder if we could create….

• Tell me about the parts of a…

• How could we organise the…?

• Could you find a different way to…?

• How could we create the ocean? What would we need?

• Could you tell me about these characters?

•   Can you tell me about what you’re doing?

•   How shall we set it up/where shall we  put…?

•   What is happening in the scene today?

•   What are you making/eating?

•   Do you need anything else?

•   Who are you pretending to be?

•   Who else is in the scene with you?

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In conclusion, small world play is a great way to encourage creativity, imagination, and social skills in young children. It can be easily incorporated into any home or classroom, and doesn't require a lot of expensive materials. With a little bit of planning, you can set up a small world play area that will provide hours of fun for your child.