What is your relationship to your own creativity? How do you foster creativity in the children you play with? What opportunities for learning lie in imaginary play in nature? In this three-part webinar series we will explore creative practices as inspired by theatre techniques, with the goal of enhancing play-based learning in connection to the natural world. The focus of the first part will be our own creative spirit, the second will offer useful techniques and concepts from theatre for playing with children, and the third will focus on the connective power of storytelling and techniques for imbedding instruction into imaginary play.

Christine Alexander is an improv, theatre-based Teaching Artist working to increase child-led play-based learning in the DC region. Since graduating from The George Washington University with a BA in Theatre, Christine has participated in the vibrant DC theatre community as an actor, stage manager, and Teaching Artist. Her experience with children ranges from summers as a counselor and paddling instructor at Rockbrook Camp for Girls in Brevard, NC, to her work as a Play Specialist at Amazing Life Games Pre-School and Lead Teaching Artist with Washington Revels. She is proud to be a founding company member of the Smithsonian’s Creative Tools for Teaching program, which provides improv-based professional development to early childhood educators in DCPS. Christine also has a life-long love for the outdoors, and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2017.