School News: Students Help Playground Design Come to Life
Spring 2019
The Delta School (AR) encourages students to be self-motivated and entrepreneurial. So when a group of 5- to 7-year-olds said they wanted a playground space of their own, they were encouraged to make it happen.
The students interviewed their classmates about what playground equipment they wanted. A treehouse and a swing set rose to the top of the wish list. There wasn’t space for both, so the students decided to design a treehouse with swings.
Each student created prototypes with the specific features. Then, builders at a local sawmill helped them design their vision to scale. An expert builder came to campus, chose the best options, and determined the final version.
The project helped students learn math, science, and design concepts. The students took measurements, defined angles, learned about different types of wood and natural versus manmade resources, and discussed safety. All the wood used in the treehouse was locally sourced—some from the campus grounds.
“Project-based learning using human-centered design is at the heart of The Delta School curriculum,” says Jenifer Fox, the school’s founder. “Students are challenged to listen to one another, come to agreements, and collaborate for success. The goal is to ensure that every child succeeds in doing high-quality academic work that results in something that makes the world a little better.”
This treehouse—with not only swings but a pulley system, climbing wall, and fireman’s pole—definitely makes these, and future, students’ world a little better.
What’s happening at your school? Share your story with us at[email protected].