Outdoor Assignment

ECE 119F Health Nutrition and Safety

Submitted to: Sarah Jane Grant

Submitted by: Hollie White, Mackenzie Dreveny, Mackenzie Dufour

Date of Submission: December 7th 2016

Part A: Photos of the Play Area
Part B: Schematic Play Space

(We could not scan the document into this document so I have attached it as a hard copy to give
to you).

Part C: Safety Evaluation

(This is also attached with the schematic in the hard copy that will be given to you).

Part D: Quality Evaluation:

Nature

How many trees are present?

There are a lot of trees present around the play space. Many are surrounding the play space and
many are in different areas including around the monkey bars and around the remainder of the
school play area.

Are there native plants growing in the space?

There are native plants growing in the area. The playground is surrounded by trees. There is
grass visible, but not many flowers to be seen. There does not seem to be areas that have been
planted.

What kinds of props are present in the space to encourage nature?

There are not any props present in the space to encourage nature.

Is there a natural area close to the play space? Is this space used by the children?

There is a natural area by the play space. There is an area with big rocks to play on, with a picnic
table in the middle. This is used by the children during recess.

Inclusion

How does this play space allow for a child that uses a wheel chair to access?

The play space does not allow for a child with a wheelchair to access. The base around the
playground is stones, so that does not make it easy for a wheelchair to be maneuvered. The
stones could get caught in the wheelchair which could cause the wheel chair to tip over. This is a
safety issue. Rubber surfacing should be put into place to prevent anything from happening that
could pose as a safety issue.

How does this space allow for a child to play with fine motor delays?

This space does not allow for children with fine motor delays to engage in play because there is a
lot of fine motor skills required to play on this playground. Even the rocks you have to climb on
and it would make it very difficult for children with fine motor delays to play on them.

Interest and Variety

How many different ground textures are available for the children (grass, concrete, sand,
woodchips, rubber surfacing, etc).

There are a few different ground surfaces available for the children. There are stones where the
actual play equipment is, cement, and grass, there are not woodchips or rubber surfacing.

What kinds of permanent play structures are available for the children to use?
Permanent play structures that are available to use are: a full climber, monkey bars, and a section
with big rocks to climb on. There is also a grassy area with soccer nets as well, with slots of
space to run around. There is also an area on the cement with basketball nets.

What kinds of other materials are present for the children to use?

There are not many other materials present for the school aged children to use.

Are there places for children to be in a large group together? Small groups? Alone?

The children have many opportunities to have large and small group interactions. The children
have the playground (green grass area with soccer nets), rocks with picnic table area, and
monkey bars that the children can play on together or alone. The grass area where the soccer nets
are being a great area for the kids to either spend time alone, play soccer games, or come up with
whatever activities they want to do.

Are there opportunities for children to take safe risks?

There are opportunities for children to take safe risks in this play space. They are able to climb
on the rocks and play equipment in the play space, as well as even do something with the picnic
table.

Are there elements of the interior present in the playground? (ie. Art, music, reading, loose
parts)

The only loose parts that are present in this play space environment are rocks, other than rocks
there are no other loose parts visible.

Do the areas for gross motor play interfere with quiet areas?

Everything in the play space is very open. The soccer nets are separated from the rocks and
picnic tables and the playground area is separated from the basketball nets and cement.

Part E: Safety/Safe Risk Recommendations

This environment (especially with the sand) would be very difficult for children with
physical disabilities to adjust to. The sand would make it very hard for children in wheelchairs
and with walkers to be able to use fine and gross motor skills within the playground
environment. In order to accommodate all children with physical delays, 1) the playground sand
must be replaced with the new play safe rubber material. Not only will the replacement material
benefit children with physical delays, it will also decrease the amount of injuries that could occur
within a daycare or school-aged facility. The playground would also have to 2) add in a ramp, to
accommodate the children with physical disabilities, so they easily mobilize alike the other
children. It would be beneficial for the facility to have 3) sand or a soft surface underneath any
slides or monkey bars, so that the childrens falls or possible injuries will be prevented in the
future. Having sand in the playground environment would have it very muddy, especially during
bad weather which would be a hazard for children as they would not be able to use the
playground equipment regularly.

Part F: 5 Developmentally Appropriate Activities:

All activities are for ages 5 to 8 years old

1. Obstacle Course: promotes strength and confidence, as well as gross motor skills.
Obstacle offer challenges, and also working together as a team. It is a great strategy to
encourage problem solving. This activity will be completed with the children by having
them help me set up the obstacle course and have children break into teams together. This
will be done over by the soccer net area as there is more grass for running around and
more space to set up the course.

ELECT components:

Version of ELECT: School Age

Domain: Physical
Root Skill: 5.1 Gross Motor Skills
Specific Indicator: Running: Increasing control, speed and co-ordination.

2. Nature Scavenger Hunt: this will promote cognition and math skills by finding hidden
objects. Children are also learning about nature, and beginning to learn about different
properties of objects. Children will have their own checklist of items to find and will be
broken into groups. They will go with their assigned RECE to find the items listed, and
discuss each of the items.

ELECT components:

Version of ELECT: School Age

Domain: Cognition
Root Skill: 4.5 Inquiry
Specific Indicators: Collecting information/interpreting information

3. Yoga Activities: promote use of fine and gross motor skills and relaxation. Yoga can also
promote creativity to create different poses and allow for children to express themselves.
It can also assist with emotions and emotion regulation. If the children are feeling angry
or anxious it is a great way to cool down and be active at the same time. Materials
needed: yoga mats, yoga balls, and any other materials that can promote creativity and
expression.

ELECT Components:

Version of ELECT: School Age

Domain: Emotional
Root Skill: 2.4 Recognizing and Expressing Emotions
Specific Indicator: Using a variety of strategies to regulate emotions such as anxiety

4. Tug of War: This game will promote co-operation skills and knowing what the proper
rules of the game. Children must work together to make sure that the game is played
fairly and co-operatively avoiding conflict. Materials needed will be large rope.

ELECT Components:

Version of ELECT: School Age

Domain: Cognitive
Root Skill: 4.11 Games with Rules
Specific Indicator: Using strategies to increase performance during the game

5. Baseball: This game will promote co-operation skills and knowing what the proper rules
of the game. It will also promote gross motor skills and children will work in teams. This
will be played in the area by the soccer nets, as there is open space for the bases and for
the children to run. Materials needed: bases, baseball bat, pitchers glove, baseball. The
children can also wear their favourite sports jersey or any type of uniform that they want.
Children will co-operate and share materials.

ELECT Components:

Version of ELECT: School Age

Domain: Social
Root Skill: 1.3 Co-operation
Specific Indicator: Co-operating and sharing frequently