Alexxa Vanderbeek
I have focused my design within the wooded Nature Trail due to the fact that it has a lot of potential to grow. So I based my design around the trail to enhance the learning experience and allow playing to occur naturally.
A major influence on this is based off of the four ways in which children learn; Mastery Style, Understanding, Interpersonal, Self-Expressive. These helped to create each learning areas that have activities directed towards them. As well as creating activities each area is dedicated in teaching about different parts of the forests ecology, such as the different types of vegetation as well as animals and their niches.
Starting with the north entrance there is to be an elevated platform that has a statue and signage to initiate the walk through the nature trail. As you continue on the path after the split there is a newly added platform by an existing outdoor classroom, this can act as stage or as a music/art room. If continuing right on the split, there are two more platforms that sit at 1’ and 3’ off of the ground. These are accessible by ramp and ladders. These are two areas that can be used for different classes to learn about the vegetation or the animals of the forest since it is almost directly in the middle. Tucked away in the next bend is another outdoor classroom that sits level to the ground and can be used as a quieter space for teaching as it will be surrounded by vegetation. Added to the next existing classroom is a platform that is 4’ off the ground, this platform is accessible by a ramp that encircles the octagon as well as a cargo net and ladder. This can be used as a centralized hub of the trail in which the children can go above it and below the platform. Continuing on the path towards the west, there are 4 reading nooks in which individuals can go sit and read or reflect in a quiet space that is specifically made for relaxing activities. These all sit at various heights and have ladders. The last outdoor classroom is an activity area in which there is a larger platform that sits 4’ above the ground and connects to a ground level platform by a zip line that continues into a ropes course. At the very south end of property, overhanging the creek is a clear platform so that the children can walk out over the water to see what lives in the center of the creek not just the edge which is where they are restricted to now.
The point of all of these outdoor classrooms is multipurpose use for all classes and allowing the children to become emerged within the forest and intrigue them to want to learn more about it. There is also use within all of the levels of curriculum from K-5 that allow each class to be able to use these areas to emphasize what is being taught.
A major influence on this is based off of the four ways in which children learn; Mastery Style, Understanding, Interpersonal, Self-Expressive. These helped to create each learning areas that have activities directed towards them. As well as creating activities each area is dedicated in teaching about different parts of the forests ecology, such as the different types of vegetation as well as animals and their niches.
Starting with the north entrance there is to be an elevated platform that has a statue and signage to initiate the walk through the nature trail. As you continue on the path after the split there is a newly added platform by an existing outdoor classroom, this can act as stage or as a music/art room. If continuing right on the split, there are two more platforms that sit at 1’ and 3’ off of the ground. These are accessible by ramp and ladders. These are two areas that can be used for different classes to learn about the vegetation or the animals of the forest since it is almost directly in the middle. Tucked away in the next bend is another outdoor classroom that sits level to the ground and can be used as a quieter space for teaching as it will be surrounded by vegetation. Added to the next existing classroom is a platform that is 4’ off the ground, this platform is accessible by a ramp that encircles the octagon as well as a cargo net and ladder. This can be used as a centralized hub of the trail in which the children can go above it and below the platform. Continuing on the path towards the west, there are 4 reading nooks in which individuals can go sit and read or reflect in a quiet space that is specifically made for relaxing activities. These all sit at various heights and have ladders. The last outdoor classroom is an activity area in which there is a larger platform that sits 4’ above the ground and connects to a ground level platform by a zip line that continues into a ropes course. At the very south end of property, overhanging the creek is a clear platform so that the children can walk out over the water to see what lives in the center of the creek not just the edge which is where they are restricted to now.
The point of all of these outdoor classrooms is multipurpose use for all classes and allowing the children to become emerged within the forest and intrigue them to want to learn more about it. There is also use within all of the levels of curriculum from K-5 that allow each class to be able to use these areas to emphasize what is being taught.