Natalie Nixon

They're playing.

How could you integrate play in class?

And some people think, well, learning isn't about play.

Well, let's unpack what play is.

Play is about curiosity.

Play is about active listening.

Play is about collaboration.

It's about experimentation.

It's about negotiation.

When we are at play, we're doing all of those things.

I was always bored in history classes in high school because

Number one, as a Black girl, there was never anyone they talked about who remotely seemed to be like me.

So I was trying to figure out, why are all these dudes, the old ones, always interesting?

So that was one thing.

But man, if I learned the way some YouTube channels talk about history, if I could learn in terms of story and just...

Because people are a trip, historically.

So if we taught history in the whimsical and odd ways that people behave, that's a much more engaging way and playful way for people to learn.

That's why Hamilton, the musical, has been such a hit.

I mean, people are learning incredible American history by learning the lyrics to music and to rap songs.

So experimentation is key.