New school playground designed by kids

Not too long ago, it was unheard of in education to receive input about a school by the actual people that would be using a school facility, that is, the students. WISD’s Scudder Elementary School’s Gifted and Talented Kindergarten students used their wits and gave expert advice when they were asked if they would like to design the playground at WISD’s new elementary school located at Winter’s Mill Road.

“We came up something engaging for the kids but way connected to the real world, and there is nothing more real than a playground,” Scudder teacher Jamie Cloud said. Cloud and fellow teacher Beverly Clark helped the kids on the project as the kids talked to planning experts; saw lots of examples and the kids participated in everything.

They studied movements in play, and why it is important. The kids were asked their thoughts and one thing was important, accessibility. They came up with one through five on what’s important.

“Anybody can use the playground, not only 5he big kids or only the little, the kids wanted it for everybody,” Cloud said. In the student’s presentation to the WISD School Board, the board was grateful for the students’ input.

As the board was concerned about the reading and writing abilities of the students, the kids were given a sheet of paper that would be the land for the playground, and pictures and drawings were used to illustrate each child’s idea of a perfect playground.

Each of the students was given a budget, a catalogue of playground equipment. One of the eye opening suggestions was about rules posted in the playground but also with pictures. “What good are rules if you can’t read,” Cloud said.

They took field trips to see other school’s playgrounds in San Marcos and at Jacobs Well Elementary. After seeing other schools and with expert advice t6he students were well prepared to make their own layouts.

As the new school is in the planning or idea stage, good advice from the actual end users, that is, the young students is expert advice and as any educator will tell you, with the student’s ownership of the playground plans, it makes the students proud of what they accomplished.