Outdoor Learning Environment

The learning environment that I designed was for preschool aged children. The age group ranges from 3-5 years old. The learning environment will be used by approximately 32 preschoolers at one time.

A1) Preschoolers are energetic. When indoors they are expected to use walking feet and indoor voices. Being outdoors is for running, exerting physical exercise, experiencing with natural objects, and socializing. In the middle of the outdoor environment would be a large climbing structure with slides, tunnels, low monkey bars, rock wall with a rope, stationary cycle, boogie board for balancing. Over the climbing structure would be a roof because on hot days the play structure could become too hot and the children may not want to use the climbing structure for this reason. The purpose of the climbing structure is to learn cooperation, negotiating, hand eye coordination and large muscle movement (rock wall, ladder, monkey bars). The stationary cycle develops coordination. The boogie boards helps with balancing and if more than one child is one the boogie board they must use team work to balance on the boogie board together. The tunnel will allow children to relax feel like or feel like they can go in a tunnel when they want some privacy. In this area their stairs and a ramp with braille writing. Most important the climbing structure is just plain fun. There is so much to do on the climbing structure.

Around the climbing structure will be a side walk. The sidewalk is designed for children who want to ride a bike or a scooter. The children will need to get a helmet on their head before getting on the bike or scooter. The bikes allow for a sense of freedom. Everyone enjoys the feeling of going fast and learning to use pedals takes ...

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...d they both have different perception about what a community is and what they community does. In the sandbox children can construct and react what they do not understand.

In front of the play structure will be an area made of cement. In this area children bounce balls in a hoop, jump rope, play hopscotch, write with chalk, or play with a water table. Large motor muscles with hand and eye coordination can be fine tuned when bouncing a ball and playing with a jump rope. Children can practice balancing and learn to follow steps when playing hopscotch. In this area children will need to learn to social skills for example sharing, using words to communicate needs, taking turns, and forming a line to show that they want to participate. An area would be only for chalk, bubbles, and painting with water which would develop fine motor. It is fascinating to this age group to