Bringing education to the play

We met with many educators to learn about how the playground could be a space for them to educate.

• CPlay volunteers aimed to align with the New Zealand education curriculum, which emphasizes the inclusion of local content about the world around children.
• They integrated indigenous knowledge, local flora and fauna, and cultural elements into the design of the public playground.
• Interactive signage and exhibits were created to educate children about the natural environment and indigenous culture, in line with curriculum objectives.
• Nature-based play activities were developed to engage children with their surroundings and promote learning through exploration.
• Community engagement initiatives were implemented to involve local residents in the development and maintenance of the playground, ensuring ongoing relevance to the community and its educational goals.
• Overall, the volunteers worked to create a playground experience that not only provided fun and recreation but also enriched children's understanding of their local environment and cultural heritage.

We learnt about the New Zealand Curriculum: https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/

The Explorer Mindset

One of our volunteers did a course on developing the explorer mind set with National Geographic to understand how we could bring education value to play space. https://blog.education.nationalgeographic.org/
We learnt from the National Geographic Explorer mindset, that we could integrate natural elements, educational signage, and interactive exhibits to encourage children to explore and appreciate the environment. Sensory experiences and nature-based play activities were incorporated to stimulate curiosity and creativity. Environmental awareness programs were organized, and the community was involved in maintaining and developing the playground. Together, these efforts aimed to foster a deeper connection to nature and inspire future generations of explorers.