Learning environments that spark joy and nurture opportunities for play are central to the learning process. Play supports the learning and development of learners of all ages — from young children to adults. Engaging in play can spark curiosity, wonder, and imagination as learners construct new understandings and develop relationships. These acts of playfulness can lead learners to experience a sense of joy that adds to the engagement in the learning process, from early childhood through adulthood. Further, for historically marginalized learners, finding a sense of joy can serve as an act of resistance to oppressive systems. For example, the notion of Black Joy centers ideas of freedom, imagination, community, and love. Yet, not all learners experience joy and play in the same ways, and even the same learner isn’t going to find joy in the same way every time. A UDL lens reminds us of the variability of every learner and the importance of embedding options and flexibility into the learning environment to support learners to find their own joy.

• Nurture playfulness in a variety of forms including, but not limited to, outdoor play, sensory play, imaginative play, and play through the arts.
• Incorporate opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and discovery.
• Create space for learners to find joy through connections to their identities, sense of self, and communities.
• Create space for learners to take pride in their accomplishments.
• Incorporate storytelling.