Outdoor Play Space Action Plan

Our outdoor play space meeting ended on a productive note.  Here's our immediate action plan.

October 1st  Lane will set up a mud kitchen.  This probably will not be a whole class place to play, but small groups or outdoor center area.  We will be ironing out the details and finding out what works and what doesn't.  Please pay attention to the children, listen and watch for what works for them.  Take notes, take pictures, take a video.

OCTOBER 20th OUTDOOR WORK DAY.  New additions will be to prepare an area designated for loose parts.  This will be multi-functional as it will be marked by tree stumps installed at different levels and sizes to offer a balance challenge.  Something like this....

For an area like this 

If you missed the meeting and you're wondering where this would be, please ask your co-workers who were present.  Also, on the list:  spreading mulch and sand on the playground, raking, weeding, and cleaning the other play areas, cementing the bird bath bowl to the bird bath base and installing Ms. Pat's plague, assembling storage shed (s) in the garden area, general repairs to playground equipment (list provided by preK teaching teams).  Bring your gloves, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, or other tools you may find useful.  Hope to see you all there.

5 new John Deere dump trucks (that's the limit allowed utilizing my Amazon Prime account) will arrive Wednesday.

Something you can do now to extend the outside play area is to bring paint brushes and paint or mud to the easel hanging on the fence.  This might be a fun thing to do on riding toy day.  The easel can be lowered or moved to a child-centered area of your choosing.

One identified goal for the new outdoor play areas is to extend "respect for property" by creating a habit of cleaning-up and preparing a play space for those who come behind us.

September was for Squash

Lane has gotten our vegetable of the month plan off to a great start.  Who knew raw squash could be so much fun (the movement and the new tools- fun!) or that this healthful idea could be so delicious!  From my observations it was a tremendous hit.

Tennent was in true bliss he loved it so much!

Here's a fun idea from the Dragonflies (Denise and Jo Anna's class). 

I love this extension of the experience.  This is glued down, but you could also just have added a few of the paper plates and other props to the kitchen area.  Or you could keep going and add some red paint and then some dried basil and oregano to give a yummy smell.  You get the drift.  

Several of you asked about the spiral slicer and here it is - Joyce Chen Spiral Slicer.  Lane says you can find it in stores, but it is readily available to order online.

More Trucks?

Hey gang,

What do we think of this truck?  It's hard to find Tonka replacements and even new trucks, but the children really seem to benefit from the heavy pushing and the weight of these steel trucks.  Not to mention they can sit in the back and hang out and socialize once they're exhausted from pushing them around.

This is a 21 inch truck.  The yellow Tonka trucks are 20. something inches.  They are roughly the same size.  However it would be a huge mistake to order just one.

Loose Parts!

We now have tree cookies and I've collected some bamboo poles.  In case you've missed the conversation, beginning last spring many of us have been talking about re-evaluating the outdoor play space and making the space outside the playground fence (not the big fence) full of activities and opportunities for children to expand their imaginations.  We figured some tree cookies would be easy to come by - ha!  Took some time, but we've got some.  Here's some kids playing with tree cookies.

I think the area just outside the gate of the big playground would be a great place to start.  I think these items will need to be brought out like the riding toys.  What do you guys think?

And while your considering it.  Check out these other outdoor play spaces.  

Simple mud pie kitchen!

 Just add a little fabric.

 I'm pretty sure they are actually cooking.  Mixing up your ingredients outside is a great way to avoid a large clean-up.

Hanging objects create a sound experience.  

NAEYC Conference in Hotlanta!

Here's the Preliminary Conference Program which may be faster to look over than the Itinerary Planner.
Either way, give it a look over and let me know if you're interested in attending.