Urban Thinkscape is a project of Playful Learning Landscapes that groups 3 low-cost activities together to generate high-quality interactions between children and caregivers in an urban environment. Playful Learning Landscapes provides 4 templates that communities can choose from to develop their set of 3 urban activities (Puzzle Wall, Jumping Feet, Giant Ruler, Analogy Stepping Stones). Communities are free to develop their own activities for the site as long as the new activities follow the playful learning design principles. At least one of the activities for each Urban Thinkscape project should come from the Playful Learning Landscape templates.
Playful Learning Landscapes is a global movement that is situated at the intersection of placemaking and early learning. By infusing our cities and public spaces with playful learning opportunities for children and families, we create vibrant and inclusive social environments that nurture a strong sense of community. We also improve educational equity and enhance children’s cognitive and social development, better preparing them for success in the 21st- century.
To design Playful Learning Landscapes, we use a 3-part formula:
1. How Children Learn
Meaningful Actively Engaging Socially Interactive Iterative Joyful
2. What Children Learn
Communication; Content; Critical Thinking; Creative Innovation, Confidence, Collaboration
3. Community Values
A successful design will incorporate all 5 qualities of HOW children learn, and at least 1-2 of the 6C’s that define the learning goals, or WHAT children need to learn to flourish.
Urban Thinkscape is a project of Playful Learning Landscapes that groups 3 low-cost activities together to generate high-quality interactions between children and caregivers in an urban environment. Playful Learning Landscapes provides 4 templates that communities can choose from to develop their set of 3 urban activities (Puzzle Wall, Jumping Feet, Giant Ruler, Analogy Stepping Stones). Communities are free to develop their own activities for the site as long as the new activities follow the playful learning design principles. At least one of the activities for each Urban Thinkscape project should come from the Playful Learning Landscape templates.
Playful Learning Landscapes is a global movement that is situated at the intersection of placemaking and early learning. By infusing our cities and public spaces with playful learning opportunities for children and families, we create vibrant and inclusive social environments that nurture a strong sense of community. We also improve educational equity and enhance children’s cognitive and social development, better preparing them for success in the 21st- century.
To design Playful Learning Landscapes, we use a 3-part formula:
1. How Children Learn
Meaningful Actively Engaging Socially Interactive Iterative Joyful
2. What Children Learn
Communication; Content; Critical Thinking; Creative Innovation, Confidence, Collaboration
3. Community Values
A successful design will incorporate all 5 qualities of HOW children learn, and at least 1-2 of the 6C’s that define the learning goals, or WHAT children need to learn to flourish.
Looking forward to getting the long awaited Activity Panels for the students.
The vision of our school is to educate the whole child and bring new experiences to them that are real world. Our students at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy Primary are currently collaborating with a local nursery called Gardopia Gardens. Our students are learning how to be responsible care takers of the earth. They are learning to collaborate, problem solve, and find their place in the community.
The Thinkscape project is a playful learning environment which in my opinion will bridge this educational experience for our students. It allows children to be inventive, problem solvers, and consciences of themselves in relation to the world around them. I believe the impact Thinkscapes brings to the community is that it will give students the opportunity to be collaborators, promote creative thinking towards learning, and thoughtful consideration.
It is our plan to create Thinkscape walk ways with pavers, puzzle walls in the garden area that will fuse the learning experience of gardening and play.
Stepping Stone Project
A thousand dollar budget is being allocated for the stepping stone project.
Materials needed for this project are approximately three hundred, twelve inch round or square stepping stones, base gravel for leveling stones, mulch for around the stones, and some paint.
Puzzle Wall
This project is still in progress. We are currently getting estimates for this project.