Thursday, October 1, 2026
Floyd B. Watson Elementary School was transformed into an exciting venue, dubbed The Power of Play Pavilion, on Oct. 19, as students participated in physical, mental and strategic games and activities designed to promote collaboration and problem-solving.
More than 250 students and parents attended the school-wide event, which Watson teachers suggested in a grant that was funded by the Rockville Centre Education Foundation. The goal of the initiative is for students to benefit from the social interaction inherent in the games. Watson supports the principle that students who experience the learning and playing of games with their peers learn how to share, take turns, communicate with each other and solve problems collaboratively.
Every classroom housed an activity designed to spark the students’ imagination and natural curiosity. Students created structures with blocks and Legos, defied gravity with games such as Gravity’s Edge, Gravity Maze and Staxis, solved hand-held Perplexus mazes and stretched their vocabulary with Boggle.
In addition, a variety of fitness activities, including climbing up the cargo net, traversing the school’s rock wall, competing in the box jump game and dancing with hula hoops was available in the gym. Watson students will continue to be engaged in the Power of Play activities throughout the school year.
