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Website

http://www.washingtonyuying.org

So you’re going to improve your local playground. What’s your great idea?

Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School (Yu Ying) is Washington, DC's first and only partial Chinese immersion public school. Yu Ying would like to install a zip line and some tree swings on our campus' undeveloped back acre. We are fortunate to sit on 3 acres, two of which house the school and the playground. The wooded back acre has been slotted as an outdoor classroom/play area which will ensure a seamless transition between the indoor and outdoor classrooms. We want the students to be able to make use of all 3 acres. Installing a zip line and 3 tree swings on the back acre will guarantee that students will benefit from the entire campus, physically and educationally. Students will learn through discovery and observation.

Which local nonprofit, school, or park district will you work with, and how will you work with them to choose a playground for the project?

Yu Ying is a public charter school and its own local educational agency (nonprofit). During the second half of SY 2011-2012, a meeting was held between parents, teachers, administrators and local community members to determine a plan for the undeveloped back acre. A Master Plan was created from input from this meeting. Included in the plan is simple outdoor classrooms, a treetop outdoor classroom, a school garden and an outdoor nature type play area.

How will you involve local volunteers in the playground project?

Yu Ying has a very active parent community and we require that each family donate 20 hours of volunteer time to the school. For installation of the zip line and the tree swings, we will ask for parent volunteers. In the past, Yu Ying has benefitted from the participation of "Hands On DC," a local volunteer organization. If the project does not attract parent interest, we will reach out to "Hands On DC," who has and if needed, other organizations.

Tell us about the kids that will be using the playground.

Yu Ying students (PreK-5) come from all parts of DC and are 47% Black, 32% White, 19% Asian and 2% Hispanic. Yu Ying uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme curriculum framework and our students learn through structured inquiry. Within the IB PYP, teachers develop themes that align with the DC Learning Standards for PreK - 8th grades. Because Yu Ying students are inquirers, we want to be able to provide an environment for them to discover through academics and through play.

Discussion

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