To begin with, I introduced the theme assigned 'Space', asking kids about that, with the aim of knowing previous insights. To achieve this purpose, I prepared two activities in order to introduce new vocabulary and connect it with their learning in L1, then we put the words learned in context, and finally, we reinforced vocabulary, (I firmly believe in the importance of children being enriched and learning first from their peers, in exclusive and prepared contexts). Then, in the next class (to review/to reinforce), I made a Carpet Space, where children had to jump or make other movements with their bodies, while I guided and encouraged them to repeat the specific words learned. To finish the activity, they needed to cross The Carpet of Space to become astronauts. Finally, I gave them an astronaut-free pass to be a member of space for the merit that they had done.

This game was organized in small groups. Keeping calm twenty-two children was no problem because they were delighted and concentrated both on the activity and on obtaining their free passes.

To sum up, the material enlightened and reaffirmed my previous conceptions regarding teaching L2 joining the game with literacy.

Hugs.

Melina Giraudo.

The benefits of physical games for language learners, such as bingo, hopscotch, musical chairs, and others, are based on how cheap and effective physical activities can be in providing motivated and meaningful experiences of language in use. These games do not require expensive technological aids and the fact that the target for the learners is the winning of a game guarantees that the language used will be authentic, useful, and relevant. Learners will be focused on their aim of winning the game rather than practicing the language.

Regards,
Lucia Sanchez.

Exploratory play, where children engage with natural and people-made resources, offers huge learning opportunities. It allows children to investigate materials and their properties, supporting the development of both fine motor skills and scientific inquiry. As children manipulate objects, they build tactile awareness and discover cause-and-effect relationships. This hands-on exploration fosters a deeper understanding of the physical world and encourages critical thinking. Furthermore, the process of discovery during exploratory play sparks curiosity and entertains enthusiasm for learning.

Construction play, involving activities like building with blocks, clay or other materials, promotes a range of cognitive skills. Children learn spatial reasoning as they create structures, develop mathematical concepts like symmetry and balance, and engage in problem-solving by figuring out how to make their creations stable. This type of play fosters creative thinking, as there are often multiple ways to construct a structure. In this way  children develop perseverance as they work through design challenges. Construction play provides opportunities for social interaction as well, as children collaborate on complex building projects, enhancing teamwork and communication.

Role play is a powerful tool for cognitive and social development. When children take on roles and immerse themselves in imaginative scenarios, they exercise their creativity and gain insights into the perspectives of others. This fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of social dynamics. Role play encourages language development as children use speech and vocabulary appropriate to their chosen roles. It exercises memory skills, body posture and mimic skills. Moreover, it allows them to practice problem-solving in context, as they make decisions as the character would, learning to acknowledge the diversity of viewpoints and experiences. 

While child-led exploration and play are fundamental to fostering a child's innate curiosity, adult-led activities also have their place in the educational experience. They can serve a purpose when there's a specific concept or skill that needs to be learned through structured guidance ensuring that essential objectives are met.

In my experience, the true beauty of early childhood education lies in its ability to transition from adult-led to child-led experiences. Adult-led activities may serve as a catalyst, as children become more engaged and confident, they naturally gravitate toward self-directed learning. This fluid approach ensures that children develop a lifelong love for themselves and genuine curiosity about the world. 

Josela Martín

Tomlinson and Masuhara have championed the use of games and technology in language education, emphasizing their potential to engage learners, improve language acquisition, and create enjoyable and effective learning experiences. 

On my experience I would like to share that when I started with the observations of Practices II, I found out that games really play a crucial role in L2 acquisition. There were several games in the room and the the teacher always take a time to play some games. They also include technology, as they have tablets where kids can draw and play. It was really interesting to experience by myself the importance of games in L2 learning. 

Anabella Burdman.

While reading the files I considered that the role of games in the classes in the different levels of education are essential to motivate, and improve the learning of a second language. 

According to the material Tomlinson & Masuhara (2009) emphasizes the benefits from playing games, children enjoy individual and group games, it doesn't matter if it is competitive or a collaborative one.  

Both authors say that if they enjoy different types of games and this means to contribute to their acquisition of the L2, it is something that means a must with positive results.
A game that my students enjoyed is to build sentences while the time is counting and the group that finishes first is the winner. This helps them with present simple learning. 
Another game for very young learners is playing to the BINGO. As teachers we can use this game with different topics, more exactly vocabulary. For example, the house, parts of the body, numbers, colours,etc. 
Games help us to create a good atmosphere of learning a second language, and it makes more dinamic and enjoyable. 
Teachers have the important role of guide to each activity and motivate them to do it.

Hugs,
Milca Juárez. 

Regards, Florencia Mendaro.