The first week brought exciting new additions to our rooftop play area, challenging students to think, build, and work together.
The space is a rich environment for dramatic and physical play, blending the natural elements of the garden with the flexible, open-ended materials provided on the roof. The dynamic setting encourages children to invent scenarios, practice important social skills, and engage in imaginative, cooperative storytelling.
New materials for balance, construction, and STEM
Balancing materials: A fresh set of wooden planks, varying in length and width, was introduced alongside new stacking blocks. The challenge for students was to work in teams to construct stable bridges and elaborate structures, testing their sense of balance and cooperation.
STEM materials: In addition to the balancing pieces, a large tub of balls and building components is a vital part of the play space. Kids have been busy constructing complex systems with various-sized building blocks, as well as on the magnet board with pipes and connectors, and gears. These materials prompt students to use engineering design principles as they create, test, and refine their creations.
Sand Box and Mud Kitchen: The new, covered sandbox on the rooftop garden has quickly become a vibrant stage for the start of the school year. Before the new sand even arrives, students have been creatively using the space for dancing, conversations, and new friendships. New tools, including scoops, galvanized bowls and trays, sieves, and funnels, have been added to the rooftop to spark innovative play both inside the sandbox and at the mud kitchen.
A blossoming legacy from last year’s 4/5s students
The students’ play is enriched by a living classroom—the amazing plants flourishing across the rooftop. Last year’s 4/5s students laid the groundwork, and their hard work has paid off beautifully.
Growing bean pods: Students have been thrilled to discover the long, slender bean pods on the bean plants, a result of the careful planting by the previous class. Observing the seeds develop inside the pods provides a tangible lesson in plant life cycles and the long-term impact of their gardening efforts.
Colorful flowers: The garden is still full of blooming flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, creating a vibrant ecosystem on the roof. This offers a chance to observe the symbiotic relationship between plants and insects, building on the knowledge passed down from the previous students.
This week has demonstrated that the rooftop is more than a garden or a sandbox or slide —it’s a dynamic, hands-on classroom. It provides a peaceful and inspiring space for focused observation and collaborative play, a perfect way to kick off the new school year.
