|
PLAYGROUND REVOLUTION |
|
|
Until the Spring of 1999, our small playground, measuring 29 metres by 23 metres was home to 110 children for 2 sessions a day. The children had no equipment so arguments common and minor accidents a regular event as many children passed the time in trying to wrestle, imitate violent cartoons or run around the small playground at top speed with the inevitable collisions. My class (10 and 11 year olds) were collecting playground games and trying them out as part of the Language, Computer and PE curriculum. These games can be viewed by clicking here. I printed off our new web pages and laminated them to make a resource for the other classes in the school. These games instructions were kept in a big plastic box into which I added, (in stages), a collection of balls and a couple of skipping ropes. The result? An amazing change in the playground atmosphere, an almost total absence of disputes and virtually no accidents! You may be wondering if all this is a fairytale. Not at all ... read on!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Making simple equipment available has created space as the children have zoned themselves according to activity |
|
|
|
|
|
In this photo you can see how something as simple as 2 skipping ropes and a tennis ball have created lots of free space on the playground |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The chest contains the equipment and is controlled by 2 monitors who bring it out and collect in the equipment. The children form an orderly queue on a first come first served basis to take some play equipment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One ball keeps 30 children busy every day in a girls V boys match in one third of the playground |
|
|
|
|
|
Any child of any age is allowed to take equipment The only rules are that balls must not be kicked and that any child can join in anyone’s game |
|
|
|
|
|
Inside the chest is a supply of small balls, a few skipping ropes and instructions for the games |
A quick look at the rules for a new game |
