'THE STUMP'
"You will often find students sitting on the stump during a reading lesson, and you will always find students playing here at recess and lunch time. They love redesigning the space by moving the rocks" (Kinsman, 2015).
The natural elements that create an outdoor learning space for grade two, three and four students at Torquay College is referred to as ‘The Stump’. Principal; Pamela Kinsman explained that she has built strong relationships with the Torquay community and the stump, rocks and pebbles were donated to the school (Kinsman, 2015). Such a simple and low cost space is a favourite area in the school for students to learn and play.
As seen in the photograph, this area is a natural water catchment. The children only have to wait a few days until the area is dry enough to continue using their space.
Observation and discussion between Barwon Health professional Susan Parker, Pamela Kinsman and a pre-service teacher resulted in identification of learning opportunities within this space. It was thought that spacing out the rocks as stepping stones would involve students using mathematical knowledge for distance and estimating. They would build on their teamwork skills as they negotiated and planned the new design of the rock placement. This natural area also provided sensory elements of descriptive activity for expression in literacy.
'THE CRATER'
LENTRANCE VIEW
'THE CRATER'
LSIDE VIEW
The crater area can be used as a seating place to group students while learning outside.This area was created by mounding earth around a hollow and placing large rocks around the inner walls to be used as seating or a hard surface for writing. The height of the walls partially obscure the inner area creating a special feeling of a ‘special place’ for reading, performance or group work. The round shape also provides a 'safe' and 'secure' area for students as boundaries can be set by the teacher if necessary. The trees and native plants make up the nature and ‘green space’ in the ‘classroom’.
'THE HARMONY FOREST'
'The Harmony Forest' is a dense planting of trees at equal distances apart to create a forest or woodland environment. Within The Harmony Forest’ there is a buddy pole (as seen in the photo) where students can go if they have no one to play with, it is then the responsibility of other students to approach the child and invite him or her to play. There is also a memorial seat on the corner (as seen in the photo) that represents lives that have been lost within the school community.
This space combines elements of nature and traditional play areas. A qualitative study that focused on the beliefs and practices of preschool outdoor play actually explain that playground equipment is important for children’s physical development however, they recommend that it should only take up twenty five percent of the space (McClinic & Petty 2015, p. 30).
'THE WATER SYSTEM'
'THE WATER SYSTEM'
'The Water System' at Torquay College is a focal outdoor classroom. It runs along the front of the school, meaning that people have to walk over it as they enter the grounds. There are great learning opportunities in this classroom. Students have introduced five different frog species into the water system; Growling Grass Frog, Pobblebonk, Southern Brown Tree Frog, Spotted Grass Frog and Green Tree Frog. Mrs Kinsman, the school Principal stated that 'the students have learned to differentiate the sounds of each species of frog. They would be able to tell you which type of frog was ribbiting'. The students also use the frog statue in the water as a measure of water levels during the different seasons througout the year. During winter, the whole frog is almost submerged in the water.
It is the students responsibility to care for the water system and the species that live in it. 'The students get quite upset if they see rubbish in the water. You will see them safely remove anything that does not belong in there' (Kinsman, 2015).
Teachers also hold lessons at 'The Water System' to teach the students to test water salinity. They students lay down on the bridge or stand at the waters edge to gain access to the water.