Landscape Design

Today we all had a try at designing our new playground. The children have noticed all the excavating and constructing going on in the back yard and are asking what is happening. I presented the children with a design I had created for a new playground and I talked about the features/symbolism of my drawing. I explained that I had used lines to represent, pathways and ladders and circles to represent a tunnel and a figure to show how to use the play space.

Asher's drawing was very detailed, he responded with such enthusiasm to this task. Maybe this has something to do with the fact that his dad is the builder who has been doing all the excavating and constructing?!?!? Asher's design of a flying fox attached to monkey bars is very creative. We can easily see how Asher has used lines and shapes to represent equipment; the arched lines represent a bridge and the swing is easily recognizable. The slide coming off the swing is characteristic of many parks in the area which are usually all one large fort. Asher's use of numerals to represent the depth of his 50m swimming pool is a great example of children equate numbers with size. 

Peyton's drawing is also detailed and has a very innovative idea of a flying fox that goes all the way around the playground - what a ride! Peyton has drawn a figure to show how to use the flying fox and has used lines to represent a ladder, the dark line/area clearly shows the depth in her pool. 

Amelia's drawing is very carefully spaced and shows good use of shapes to represent each play feature. Amelia has drawn a great circle to act as her pool and has included some black 'rocks' as an edge - just like the pool Asher's dad is building. Amelia used lines and a circle to represent her flying fox. The bridge is easily distinguished and even has a figure walking across it.

Hudson was the engineer behind the idea of the flying fox, he announced at the start of the design process: "Mine is going to have a flying fox... a double flying fox" Hudson proceeded to work out how to put this idea onto paper and above we can clearly see his vision. Two bars are suspended on a long line. Hudson even used his finger to count how many meters across the flying fox was. 

Taylor added some flare to her drawing with the use of colour. She included a pool, boulder and monkey bars that have a lovely purple vine growing in between them. Taylor proceeded to draw another design on the back of her page that included a flying fox and ladder.

Summer thought about her playground for a long time and was last to start drawing, she carefully placed each item on her page and even included herself on the bridge next to a tree - also on the bridge. This demonstrated how carefully Summer had examined my drawing that included many tree's in the structure of the playground. I pointed this out when I began and said it might be a good idea to include some trees. Summer's slippery dip is especially interesting, I really like how the lines are used to represent the 'rungs' or steps up to the top of the slide,

Gem had a very interesting idea of including lots of boomerangs in his playground... "because you can throw them and they come back to you" How original, he was also the only one to add a fire pit into the space ... "for toasting marshmallows" 

Each child's drawing is unique and offers us an insight into the way they think, the value they place on certain play elements and the experiences they have had in play spaces. Gem's drawing tells us that he has likely had fun toasting marshmallows and throwing boomerangs, Summer's drawing tells us that she likes slippery dips and is skilled at interpreting another's perspective, Asher has a great ability to use images to communicate and understands that large numbers can represent depth. Peyton has a great imagination and Amelia likes adding small details to her representations. Taylor likes to use colour to convey her ideas and Hudson thinks very logically about how to communicate using symbols, he is accurate and precise.