Schoolyard Play Pod contains open-ended “loose parts” that kids can play with during recess time. The parts have no pre-determined use and are adaptable to whatever and however the child wishes to play. We also provide play worker training sessions for the school staff and parents.
What happens when you add Loose Parts to recess?
Back in May of last school year, Portland Free Play began the PlayPod pilot project during recess at Vernon Elementary in Portland, OR. The PlayPod contains ‘Loose Parts’ that kids can play with during recess time. The parts are open-ended, meaning that they have no pre-determined use and are adaptable to whatever and however the child wishes to play.
Here is what happened...
Here is what happened...
Here is some of what the Vernon community had to say about the project:
- "There has been a decrease in behavioral issues or conflicts, mainly with the students who normally aren’t into playing within organized sports. The kids who are normally in the playground or on the play structure sometimes have conflicts, but since this [the playpod] has been placed, they have been more constructive with their time. They have been using their time and energy for building stuff rather than picking fights or getting into it with other students.” - School Counselor
- "They really enjoy the heck out of all the stuff, and they’re really creative and fun with it. And it’s nice, cause it gets them away from focused on drama and other issues, and more just having fun together.” - Middle School Teacher
- “It’s made it (recess) more imaginative and creative.” - Recess staff
- “In kindergarten, one of our IB Units of Study was focused on how the sun impacts life on Earth. Our summative assessment was building a 'sun structure' to protect themselves from the sun. When the playpod showed up, I observed many kindergarten students working together to build 'sun structures' in large scale. A very cool connection they made with a unit taught earlier in the year!” - Kindergarten Teacher
- "I feel it is a wonderful program. It is cool to see kids creating/imagining/navigating play together. I have observed many instances of students in our class working together on buildings/imaginative play!” - Special Needs Teacher