Growing Together Learning Outdoor Space
Awarded $1500
My name is Cindy Jackson, and I teach special education in a self-contained classroom at Putnam County Primary School. I serve young learners with a wide range of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, and communication disorders. Many of my students require structured sensory input, movement opportunities, and safe environments in order to regulate their bodies and engage in learning successfully.
Currently, our students utilize the general education playground; however, it is often overstimulating and not fully accessible to meet their individualized needs. The noise level, large crowds, and lack of adaptive equipment make it difficult for many of our students to participate meaningfully and safely. The playground is also located on the other side of the school, making it a difficult transition for my students.
My plan is to create a small, adaptive outdoor play and learning area located directly outside our classroom. This space will allow for supervised, structured outdoor access tailored specifically to our students’ sensory, physical, and communication needs.
The proposed area includes:
- A sensory walking path to support balance and coordination
- Outdoor musical panels for auditory engagement
- Raised garden beds to promote life skills and hands-on learning
- An outdoor visual communication board to support nonverbal students
- Balls to enhance learning by improving focus, core strength, balance, and postural control
This adapted space will directly support IEP goals in the areas of gross motor development, sensory regulation, social interaction, and communication. By providing immediate access to a calming and structured outdoor environment, we anticipate improvements in student engagement, decreased behavioral incidents, and increased opportunities for inclusive peer interactions.
I am so excited to work with my students on gardening and other science activities. I am excited to have the opportunity to watch them achieve a variety of their IEP goals and to teach them new skills that have been difficult, like throwing a ball, using a hula hoop, and even learning to jump rope. I want to sincerely thank Putnam Educational Foundation for choosing me and providing my students with new and wonderful opportunities.