Right To Play, one of the consortium partners of EDU:PACT, is a global organisation committed to protecting, educating and empowering children to rise above adversity. Right To Play harnesses the power of play such as sport, physical activity and games in all of its play-based learning programs across the world, reaching more than 2 million children and youth per week.

A key aspect of Right To Play’s methodology is the experiential learning cycle. This methodological approach has been integrated into the practical activities of each unit of this module handbook.

This means that during each play session, physical education teachers or coaches introduce and reinforce the key messages of each activity through guided discussions. The experiential learning cycle begins with a physical education teacher or coach selecting a key learning – or learning outcome – such as cooperation. The key learning shapes the entire session, including the opening discussion. During the discussion, physical education teachers or coaches plant a seed by asking one or two simple questions, so that students think of the learning outcome (i.e. cooperation) while playing. Physical education teachers or coaches then lead the children through a warm-up, as good practice before engaging in physical activity. Then they engage the participants in the shared experience - a game or two related to the learning outcome. All activities are followed by a discussion.

Right To Play refers to this reflective process as REFLECT – CONNECT – APPLY. It is a teaching strategy that guides the learners through three-steps that help them process their experience:

1. Reflect

What did I just experience? Children and youth are taught the vocabulary to share their ideas and feelings and to respect the ideas and feelings of their peers.

2. Connect

How does this experience relate to earlier ones? How is it relevant to what I already know, believe or feel? Does it reinforce or expand my view?

3. Apply

How can I use what I have learned from this experience? How can I use it in similar situations? How can I use this learning to benefit myself, and my community?

When students and athletes look back on an activity via the guided discussion, they understand the meaning and carry it forward to new experiences.