Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston is Director of Jewish Studies and Advisor to the Derech Eretz Honor Council at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.

Using interviews, field research, and observations at various secular and religious schools, Levingston advocates for integrating play into students’ development and learning, specifically in the areas of moral and character development. Play provides students with opportunities to grow their character and develop moral values through active social interactions, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. It also promotes their brain development and psychological well-being. Levingston argues that schools should not confine play to recess but should integrate it into different subjects throughout the day. He offers practical suggestions and just-in-time guidance for schools to cultivate a strong moral ecology of play. The book gives a promising perspective on the urgency of offering students play opportunities that shape their moral and character development in addition to their academic learning. Advanced undergraduates and practitioners

• ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Play, Moral Education and Character EducationChapter 2: Recess Is Over, But Don’t Stop Playing! Research Methodology, Research Sites, and Three Moral Ecologies of PlayChapter 3: How Can I Catch the Kids’ Attention? Conceding, Cautious, and Complementary Uses of Play in ClassChapter 4: What Brings the Curriculum to Life and What Makes it Relevant?Chapter 5: Character-Building and Character-Driven PlayChapter 6: Co-Curricular Play: Religious spaces, electives, physical education, advisory and disciplinary systemsChapter 7: Recess and Shared Moral Spaces; Dress and GenderChapter 8: From Playing to Belonging: The Essential Role of Schools in Setting the Stage Appendix: Questions for DiscussionBibliographyAbout the Author