March Pop Up Play Workshop: Elevating Sensory Play: Designing Multidimensional and Immersive Sensory Play Experiences

Inspired Minds ECC Pop-Up Play Workshops are in-person, intentionally designed professional-learning experiences offered four times a year in communities around Edmonton. These workshops are hands-on, interactive, and reflective, inviting educators to actively engage in play, explore materials, and participate in meaningful professional dialogue. Pop-Up Play Workshops are designed to be accessible and impactful, offering practical strategies that can be immediately applied in early learning environments.

With a focus on play-based pedagogy, children’s rights, and educator well-being, Pop-Up Play Workshops provide a welcoming space to connect, reflect, and re-ignite joy in practice—without the commitment of a full conference or long-term series. Whether you’re exploring sensory play,  intentional environments, outdoor learning,  or educator wellness, each Pop-Up Play Workshop offers a fresh opportunity to connect with play and community.

📅 Pop-Up Play Workshop Schedule

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Saturday, March 21 | Elevating Sensory Play: Designing Multidimensional and Immersive Sensory Play Experiences | 📍 Location: TBA
  • Sensory play is far more than sand and water—it is a dynamic, responsive, and imagination-fuelled learning experience for young children. In this hands-on workshop, educators will explore how to add depth, height, movement, and meaning to traditional sensory tables to create multidimensional environments that spark curiosity and support holistic development. Participants will investigate new strategies that extend beyond the basics: vertical and horizontal sensory invitations, immersive sensory experiences, and sensory pathways that respond to children’s emerging interests.Grounded in research, early learning and child care frameworks, play pedagogy, and emergent practices, this session highlights how thoughtfully designed sensory experiences nurture children’s problem-solving, emotional expression, language development, and connection to the world around them. Educators will engage in active exploration — yes, you will get messy! — to inspire creativity, deepen professional reflection, and cultivate environments where children thrive through play.

• Saturday, June 13 | Build it Up: Designing Creative Play Spaces | 📍 Location: TBA
• Saturday, September 12| Listening to the Land: Deepening Nature Play Through Land-Based and Place-Based Practices | 📍 Location: TBA
• Saturday, November 28 | Exploring Hygge: Creating Spaces that Foster Happiness, a Sense of Belonging and Togetherness | 📍 Location: TBA

✨ What to Expect

When you join an Inspired Minds ECC Pop-Up Play Workshop, you can expect:

• In-person, hands-on learning rooted in play-based practice
• A focused topic at each pop-up, inspired by educator interests and current trends
• Interactive play experiences using open-ended materials and invitations to play
• Reflective discussions and collaborative professional dialogue
• Practical strategies & take-away ideas you can use right away
• A welcoming, supportive environment that values curiosity, connection, and joy
• Connection with educators from your local community and beyond
• Light snacks to keep the energy going

📝 Things You Should Know

• Pre-registration is required for all Pop-Up Play Workshops. Registration closes 48 hours in advance.
• All registrations are non-refundable. Ticket transfers to another person may be permitted with advance notice.
• Approved for Professional Development (PD) Funding and Release Time Funding for eligible participants.
• Certificates of Participation are provided upon completion of a post-workshop feedback survey.
• Limited spaces available to support hands-on learning and meaningful discussion.
• Doors open 15 minutes early for check-in and settling in.
• On-site sign-in is required for all participants. Please arrive early to allow time for check-in before the workshop begins.
• Comfortable clothing recommended, as workshops involve movement and play.
• Bring a water bottle (and a notebook if you like to jot ideas).
• Photos may be taken for Inspired Minds ECC social media and promotional use (opt-out option available).
• Content is not recorded, as learning is experiential and in-person.
• E-transfers to be sent to tina@inspiredmindsecc.ca