Playground equipment-STARS Teacher First Recipient of Playground Award
Playground equipment-STARS Teacher First Recipient of Playground Award
A third grade teacher at a local charter school has received a company’s first ever award to promote child development.
Diana Rowland, a third-grade teacher at the Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School in Vass, ordered a set of “Blue Blocks” fromImagination Playground, LLC, a company that has created “a breakthrough play space concept that encourages child-directed, unstructured free play.”
But Rowland soon learned she was receiving more than she had paid for. As part of the company’s Referral Rewards program, the initiative recognizes teachers and educators for “spreading the news about creative play” by presenting them with additional blocks. Rowland purchased the first set of blocks, a large assortment of shapes for outdoor play and learning, after raising $5,000 through a “Go Fund Me” page. The second group of medium-sized blocks was a gift from the company after winning the award.
“We now have two sets of blocks, one large and one medium sized,” Rowland said.
“The blocks are kind of like large Tinker Toys. They’re called blocks, but come in various sizes from one to two feet or more. Some blocks have slots that can work with other ‘geared’ blocks, while others are not blocks at all, but are shaped like noodles, cylinders, arches, hinges, and more. Each set has about 105 pieces in all.”
The blocks, made of biodegradable, non-toxic foam, have been popular with Rowland’s students. The third graders were busy building caves, ships, a miniature golf course and more.
“I really like the blue blocks because they are really big,” said Oriah, a third grader at STARS. “Alexis and I are making a pirate ship out of them, and we also built a robot with the medium sized ones.”
Oriah’s friend Alexis said the blocks felt “lifelike.”
“I built a doggie amusement park with them,” she said. “The dogs can climb up the trays and play with the noodles.”
Classmates Samara, Janiya, Mary and Ka’Moira all gave their approval to their new toys.
“It’s awesome that Ms. Rowland got these for us,” Samara said. “They’re easy to use and lots of fun.”
Ka’Moira said the blocks help the students learn.
“If someone wants to be a builder when they grow up, this will help them,’ she said. “It’s so much fun I want to get a set for my house.”
Rowland, who has been using the medium sized blocks for topography lessons, said the charter school’s focus on the arts and creativity is truly the “driving force” behind utilizing the learning tools.
“I believe these blocks will allow our students to have creative outlets for play and design,” she said. “And as a math and science teacher, I can't help but see the connections we could make such as measuring, building, and engineering. We received the blocks before our standardized testing, which unfortunately can be very stressful for students. So the timing for these fun blocks couldn't be better.
“I'm so thankful to be awarded the medium block set too, and enjoy having that for indoor use and sharing it with the other classrooms for fun activities.”
David Krishock, Imagination Playground president and CEO, said Imagination Playground staff “are driven” by their belief in the importance of creative free play “to help our children grow up happy and healthy.”
“We know there are thousands more educators and parents like Diana Rowland, who share our values and commitment, because we hear from them every day,” he said. “The Referral Rewards program is our way of showing them our appreciation for their support in our mission to reach three million more children in 2016.”
A third grade teacher at a local charter school has received a company’s first ever award to promote child development.
Diana Rowland, a third-grade teacher at the Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School in Vass, ordered a set of “Blue Blocks” fromImagination Playground, LLC, a company that has created “a breakthrough play space concept that encourages child-directed, unstructured free play.”
But Rowland soon learned she was receiving more than she had paid for. As part of the company’s Referral Rewards program, the initiative recognizes teachers and educators for “spreading the news about creative play” by presenting them with additional blocks. Rowland purchased the first set of blocks, a large assortment of shapes for outdoor play and learning, after raising $5,000 through a “Go Fund Me” page. The second group of medium-sized blocks was a gift from the company after winning the award.
“We now have two sets of blocks, one large and one medium sized,” Rowland said.
“The blocks are kind of like large Tinker Toys. They’re called blocks, but come in various sizes from one to two feet or more. Some blocks have slots that can work with other ‘geared’ blocks, while others are not blocks at all, but are shaped like noodles, cylinders, arches, hinges, and more. Each set has about 105 pieces in all.”
The blocks, made of biodegradable, non-toxic foam, have been popular with Rowland’s students. The third graders were busy building caves, ships, a miniature golf course and more.
“I really like the blue blocks because they are really big,” said Oriah, a third grader at STARS. “Alexis and I are making a pirate ship out of them, and we also built a robot with the medium sized ones.”
Oriah’s friend Alexis said the blocks felt “lifelike.”
“I built a doggie amusement park with them,” she said. “The dogs can climb up the trays and play with the noodles.”
Classmates Samara, Janiya, Mary and Ka’Moira all gave their approval to their new toys.
“It’s awesome that Ms. Rowland got these for us,” Samara said. “They’re easy to use and lots of fun.”
Ka’Moira said the blocks help the students learn.
“If someone wants to be a builder when they grow up, this will help them,’ she said. “It’s so much fun I want to get a set for my house.”
Rowland, who has been using the medium sized blocks for topography lessons, said the charter school’s focus on the arts and creativity is truly the “driving force” behind utilizing the learning tools.
“I believe these blocks will allow our students to have creative outlets for play and design,” she said. “And as a math and science teacher, I can't help but see the connections we could make such as measuring, building, and engineering. We received the blocks before our standardized testing, which unfortunately can be very stressful for students. So the timing for these fun blocks couldn't be better.
“I'm so thankful to be awarded the medium block set too, and enjoy having that for indoor use and sharing it with the other classrooms for fun activities.”
David Krishock, Imagination Playground president and CEO, said Imagination Playground staff “are driven” by their belief in the importance of creative free play “to help our children grow up happy and healthy.”
“We know there are thousands more educators and parents like Diana Rowland, who share our values and commitment, because we hear from them every day,” he said. “The Referral Rewards program is our way of showing them our appreciation for their support in our mission to reach three million more children in 2016.”
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