Design a Playground

crayola supplies

Paint Brushes
Colored Pencils
Washable Kid's Paint
Model Magic®
No-Run School Glue
Blunt-Tip Scissors

household supplies

recycled newspaper
white paper
string
paper towels
cardboard
container(s) of water
clear adhesive tape

Why?

Use imagination and problem-solving skills to build a model of a dream playground, taking into special consideration kids' favorite equipment and safety.

Steps

1. Take a survey to identify your classmates' favorite playgrounds. What pieces of equipment are favorites? What safety features can you identify in this playground equipment? How high can children climb? Measure the depth of cushioning material in fall zones. See how movable parts are protected so they can't pinch. Measure how much space there is between pieces of moving and stationary equipment.
2. If you could design the playground of your dreams, what would it look like? Sketch your ideas with Crayola® Colored Pencils on white paper. Figure out how to draw the playground to scale.
3. Find a large piece of recycled corrugated cardboard to use as a base for your playground. Which recycled and craft items can you use to construct a model of each piece of equipment? (cardboard tubes, boxes, craft sticks, bottle tops, feathers) Be creative and think up new possibilities. Construct the model to scale if possible. Cut pieces with Crayola Scissors. Use Crayola School Glue, string, chenille sticks, and tape to help hold pieces together. Shape Crayola Model Magic into playground equipment or anchors, too. Dry.
4. Cover a table top with recycled newspaper. Paint playground and equipment surfaces using Crayola Washable Paint and Paint Brushes. Dry.

adaptations

Older and younger children work together to research and design a dream playground.

Design a toy, considering both safety and fun. Name your toy, write directions for using it, identify the ages for which it is intended. Design an attractive box in which it could be marketed.

With adults in the community, survey playgrounds in your area to identify safety features and hazards. How can you advocate for safer playgrounds?

Design a playground especially for children with special needs. Which safety features would you be needed to protect differently-abled children? Think of fun new equipment that would take into consideration the unique abilities of special needs children.

benefits

Children survey favorite outdoor equipment and identify safety concerns and measures related to playground apparatus and design.

Students explore spatial relationships and their importance in safe playground design.

Children design an original playground that incorporates information about children's preferences and safety.

grades

Pre-K and Kindergarten
Grades 1 to 3
Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12
Special Needs

subjects

Math
Science
Visual Arts

time

Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

String-Like Materials—Includes string, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and other similar material. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use string-like material. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the “string-like material” with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond if the craft becomes entangled or caught on equipment. For children older than 8 years, the ends of the “string-like material” may be tied and knotted.