Essentially, the idea here is that you can turn anything into a pretending game. The example the author used was a marketplace:

Occasionally, in the elementary years, we turned our entire house into a miniature town. Each room in the house became a place of business, with signs, menus, goods, and services for sale. Each family member became a character with a name, a costume, and a history and started the day with a pre-determined amount of play money. We put things around the house up for sale with price tags. We offered services for a fee. Other family members would stop by the rooms to buy goods and services. Even the kitchen became a restaurant with a menu. Family members had to purchase their own food and beverages. Business owners were required to put reasonable prices on their “products” and to give correct change to customers. They were required to write proper signs, menus, and instructions for their businesses. It was amazing to see just how much math and writing my students ended up doing and how their enthusiasm for it never waned.

There are other examples within the post. It’s a great idea, after all kids naturally lean toward make believe, so why not use that to turn learning into something fun? While I think we can all agree that school isn’t always a piece of cake, this role playing sounds like something everyone can enjoy, even parents!

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you use role playing in school?