From Parking Lot to Playground

If you want to get kids to learn science, try incorporating the subject into a playground.

According to a New York Daily News story, land conservation nonprofit The Trust for Public Land recently partnered with the New York City Parks Department and the Department of Education to turn a Crown Heights parking lot into a playground.

To design the project, the groups requested the assistance of 10 fifth and sixth graders from PS/MS 394, who helped turn the patch of asphalt into a science-themed playground.

Now, instead of plain, old concrete, the lot features a soccer and football field, running track, playground, trees, gazebos and a garden and outdoor classroom.

The garden includes signs identifying various plants and a WeatherBug that provides constant, up-to-date weather information. Teachers at the school were even trained to use the outdoor equipment in order to teach science lessons to students.

The park isn't the only new green space in town: New York City officials plan to build 151 new playgrounds, 28 of which will involve input from students like the PS/MS 394 project.

We're guessing science will be a lot more fun, now that it includes some fun and games.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.