Chapter 3

PLANNING A PLAYGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Playgrounds are no longer made up of simple swings and slides. A playground for children is an important place where children develop physical strength and balance as well as make new friends. There are many companies who sell playground equipment and most of this equipment is very expensive. These companies show many of their products on their websites. When a group of people design a new playground, they should find out what equipment is available and then ask the people who will use the playground as well as what type of equipment they would like.

THE TASK

Your class has been asked to plan a new playground for the kindergarten and grade 1-3 students in your school. The school will buy 3 new pieces of equipment (1 large adventure play structure, 1 free-standing slide, and 1 swing set). Your task will be to create and administer a survey about possible playground equipment.   Use the results of the survey to make a graph and a written recommendation to your principal about which equipment should be purchased.

THE PROCESS

1. Investigate the websites that sell playground equipment.
   

   Today's Playground  
   Kan-go-roo Playgrounds  
   Jambette Canada  
   Henderson Recreation Equipment
   

   
   
2. As you find equipment that you like, save the pictures (images) so that you can include these in your survey.

   HINTS:
   

   1. Choose 4 or 5 of each type of play equipment. If you choose too many for your survey, people will find the survey too hard to complete.
   2. Save the pictures of your favourite pieces of equipment (no more than 4 of each type).
   3. Create a file called "Playground Equipment". Ask your teacher where you should create this file (perhaps in My Pictures ).
   4. Place the cursor over the picture and right-click.
   5. Click Save picture As .
   6. Click on the file in which you will place the picture.
   7. Name the picture (e.g. 'slide1', 'structure1', or 'swing2'). Click Save.
   
   
3. Create a survey using the pictures you have saved. Be sure the survey says that they can choose 1 play structure, 1 slide and 1 swing to have in the playground.
   
   1. Write a survey question.
   2. b. Write instructions for people to complete the survey. For example, do you want them to circle the equipment they want or place a checkmark in the boxes?
   3. Place the name of the equipment and the pictures in the boxes.
   4. Click inside the box where you want to insert the picture.
   5. At the top of your screen, click Insert .
   6. Click Picture and then From File in the drop-down box.
   7. When your files come on the screen, click on the picture file you want to place in the box and click Insert.
   8. h. Re-size the picture to fit the survey box.
      
   
   
4. Ask at least 10 people to complete your survey.
   
   
5. Make a tally of your results and then create at least one graph showing which equipment people prefer.
   
   
6. Write a letter to the principal explaining why this equipment should be purchased.

RESOURCES

Websites:

Today's Playground  

Kan-go-roo Playgrounds  

Jambette Canada  

Henderson Recreation Equipment

Files:

My Playground Equipment Survey

ASSESSMENT

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