Nature Meets Learning
If you have wandered past our newly-launched Woodstock Playground recently, you might have noticed something exceptional unfolding. Amid laughter and shared wonder, our Kindergarten to Year 3 girls have been exploring a new space that is far more than just a play area – it is a carefully crafted environment to nurture their growth outside the classroom.
The Woodstock Playground represents a significant departure from traditional school play areas. Rather than standardised, primary-coloured equipment cemented into soft fall, this is a thoughtfully crafted natural space that includes a water pump, dry creek bed, climbing logs, a climbing wall, sandpit, mud basin, natural cubby house, outdoor classroom, labyrinth, and the ‘yarning circle’ – each element chosen with specific educational outcomes in mind.
Now during recess and lunchtime, you might see a group of Year 2 girls working together to direct water from a hand pump through a dry creek bed, their faces full of concentration. Nearby, Kindergarten students might be gathered at the 'yarning circle', practising taking turns for the right to speak, while others listen attentively. Elsewhere, children navigate a labyrinth, climb natural log structures or experiment with the properties of sand and mud.
Mr David Ikin, Acting Head of Junior School, has observed a remarkable transformation: "The introduction of the new nature play playground to Woodstock has transformed students' play by offering a more stimulating and immersive environment. Its features encourage imaginative play, helping students engage with nature while developing motor skills, problem-solving, and social interactions."
Research from institutions such as the University of Minnesota supports the theory that learning through outdoor play transfers to the classroom. Physical challenges such as the climbing poles don't just build strength; they sharpen problem-solving abilities and enhance memory formation, as children navigate their way, calculating each move.
This combination of learning and fun is not lost on Year 2 student, Victoria. "I love the climbing poles, they were very challenging at the start but now that I have practised, I can move easily between them. It makes me proud to do something that I used to find tricky." Her classmate, Priya, agrees, "I love the challenge of moving across the poles without falling. I canmagine I am a monkey climbing through the trees. Stretch your body."
Ms Carlie Plummer, Head of Early Learning, says the Playground has something to suit every student, every day. "This innovative design promotes a variety of play styles. It incorporates both active and calm spaces, which provide students with a choice to take part in energetic movement or more calm imaginative play. Both choices support wellbeing development, as well as the opportunity to make friendships and engage socially in different ways,” she says.
Mr Ikin agrees, "The Playground’s natural textures and open-ended play opportunities encourage the students to interact with its activities in a more sensory-rich way. Physical development is advanced as the students climb, balance, and navigate different terrains, building strength and coordination. In addition, the natural setting provides a calming, less overstimulating atmosphere compared to conventional plastic equipment, making it more conducive to emotional wellbeing."
Though the Playground may be new, each girl is already clear on her favourite elements. For Naomi, from Kindergarten, it is the treehouse. “My friends and I love to go down the slide and climb up the climbing net." Olivia from Year 1 shares, "I love the climbing wall because I like walking on the little ledge and moving up and down the slopes. It makes me feel joyful."
"Overall, the space feels both dynamic and soothing, offering a small oasis in the urban landscape of North Sydney,” Ms Plummer says. “I also love that there is still space for students to engage in the age-old playground rituals of learning how to do cartwheels and playing tip.”
Watching the girls explore their new space provides a tangible demonstration of the latest educational understanding – that learning happens everywhere, not just at desks, that children thrive when given appropriate challenges, and that connecting with nature enhances both wellbeing and academic outcomes.