Students spent time researching the needs for the RMS playground by talking to other students. They also explored creative playgrounds and ideas on the internet. Students collected sites and printed images they found useful and appealing.
We have an interesting situation at RMS. We are not an upper elementary or a junior high school. We are not even a typical middle school. RMS houses 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students. The need for a playground, or at least an area for the students to socialize outside, is apparent.
To energize students we circled up around the room and quickly went around the room recalling our favorite memories of recess/playground as an elementary student. Students recalled using their imagination often, playing on slides, swinging from bars, playing tag, and the excitement of kickball. Our current playground consists of a parking lot with a few four-squares, three leaning basketball goals on a small pad of concrete, two tether ball poles, and one large gazebo. The students noted positives about our current playground:There is ample room with a huge field and outdoor classroom with many paths. The gazebo is beautiful and was built by our technical school students. There are three basketball goals and always games going. But the problems the students came up with were interesting:
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Laurie Myers
University of Florida, graduate student. Archives
June 2013
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