Activity 2-2:
Stepping Out

Purpose: In this activity, participants will use their imaginations to plan an outdoor area that offers a balance of activities and supports children's development across the four domains. Participants select an element of their ideal design that could be adapted and implemented in their program. They involve parents in planning and carrying out this part of their plan.

Outcomes:
Participants arrange the indoor and outdoor environments to ensure safety and to promote children's growth and development.

Participants involve parents in selecting and using materials and equipment that encourage children's development.

Materials:
Chart paper, markers, tape
Cardboard, other materials for drawing or making three- dimensional models
Handout 5: Planning for Outdoor Play
Head Start Facilities Manual

1. Explain to participants that this activity will focus on planning an ideal outdoor play area for the children in their program and on working with parents to adapt and implement part of their design to support child development.

2. Distribute Handout 5: Planning for Outdoor Play, and review the list of criteria. Ask participants to use this handout as a reference while creating an ideal outdoor area that supports the growth and development of children. Also share with participants the Head Start Facilities Manual. Tell participants to make the following assumptions: money is no object, there is sufficient space to carry out their plans, and all equipment meets safety standards. Tell participants to draw their designs on paper or make them three-dimensional, using the available materials.

3. Meet with participants to discuss their plans for ideal outdoor areas. Ask them to explain how their plans meet each of the criteria on Handout 5: Planning for Outdoor Play, offer a balance of activities, and support development for all children across the four domains, including children with disabilities.

4. Have participants select an element of their plan for an outdoor area that could be adapted and implemented by their program. Discuss what resources-materials, assistance of other staff and families- will need to implement their ideas, and offer assistance in locating the resources, as needed.

Coach Preparation Notes:

If participants have difficulty choosing the part of their plans that could be adapted and implemented, share the following example:

A participant's ideal plan includes a large garden area in which children can dig, plant, conduct experiments, and learn about nutrition. The program does not have a large sunny area for a garden, so the participant works with other staff and parents to find another way to achieve the same goals for children. Staff and parents decide to plant a small portable garden in a wheelbarrow that is moved into the sun every day. In addition, the participant suggests to the parents that they spend some of their fund raising resources to purchase seeds and other materials for establishing a garden in the community.

5. Support participants as they work with other staff and parents to modify their designs and implement them for the children in the program.

6. Meet with participants to discuss how children responded when the plans, developed jointly with parents, were implemented and how the changes to the outdoor environment supported children's development. Have the participants think of ways to continue involving parents in adapting and implementing portions of their ideal plans.

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