Garden of Learning In Broadmoor A project of the Broadmoor Education Corridor
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Table of Contents the broadmoor education corridor the purpose the concept the added experience broadmoor learning garden welcome area music area dramatic play/social emotional area drawing/writing area gross motor area cogitive, literacy, and sensory area center lawn area Contact Information Visualization
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The Broadmoor Education Corridor The Broadmoor Education Corridor (BEC) is a community nexus of educational and cultural institutions including four main anchors: the Andrew H. Wilson Charter School, Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center, South Broad Community Health as well as the future Arts & Wellness Center. Each of the entities is centralized within an eight-block area along General Pershing Street in order to provide a holistic set of resources for education, recreation, culture, health and individual development over an entire lifetime.
Broadmoor Learning Garden
proposed site
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general pershing st
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s dorgenois st
south broad community health center
rosa f. keller library and community center
broadmoor fine arts and wellness trail
arts and wellness center
Andrew h. wilson charter school
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THE PURPOSE Neighborhood level data collected by the Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN), using an instrument called the Early Development Indicators (EDI), indicates that many children under age five in New Orleans are entering public schools “unready.” Data showed a need for strengthening children in several learning domains: physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication skills and general knowledge. In order to support young children and their families in the Broadmoor community, we plan to create the Garden of Learning in Broadmoor (GLB). Inspired by the concepts of the United Way’s Born Learning Trail and the inspired space design of Concordia, the GLB will serve as a core piece of the early childhood experience and family engagement for the area. It will provide an outdoor space, adjacent to the Keller Library and across from the Broadmoor Arts and Wellness Center, where families and classrooms of young children can learn and have fun. The GLB also links visitors to the anchor services of the Rosa Keller Public Library and the Broadmoor Education Corridor (BEC) and resources for families in the city at large, with developmentally appropriate school readiness as the overarching goal.
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educational play outdoors
besthoff sculpture garden 7
THE CONCEPT The GLB will provide young children with an opportunity to get active, have fun and boost school readiness skills. The “garden” features age-appropriate, simple-to-construct activities that can be set up outdoors or in. Kids are learning all the time. The idea behind the garden is to turn those everyday moments into learning experiences. Each area in the GLB is designed with a few simple, yet engaging, structures that lead children to a myriad of safe, developmentally appropriate activities. The GLB reflects the much-praised Reggio Emilia educational philosophy that sees parents, teachers, and community as partners in each child’s education. Children are viewed as the collective responsibility of the local community and parents are a vital component, viewed as collaborators with teachers, and advocates for their children. The organization of the physical environment is crucial to Reggio Emilia’s philosophy, and is often referred to as the child’s “third teacher”. The GLB location will provide that connection between the school, the library, the Arts and Wellness Center, the already established exercise trail along Napoleon/Broad St., and the commercial corridor near Washington Ave. The BEC is a community nexus of educational and cultural institutions including four main anchors: the Andrew H. Wilson Charter School, Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center, South Broad Community Health as well as the future Arts & Wellness Center. Each of the entities is centralized within an eight-block area along General Pershing Street in order to provide a holistic set of resources for education, recreation, culture, health and individual development over an entire lifetime. Arranged around an open grassy space, the garden is divided into four focus areas. While whole child development school readiness is embedded throughout the garden, these focus areas reflect domains of child development cognitive, literacy and sensory skills, physical and gross motor skills, creativity, music and movement, and social emotional development. Equally important, through simple signage inspired by United Way for their Born Learning Initiative, their families will learn how to turn everyday moments into learning experiences. Research has shown that parents who interact regularly and in meaningful ways with their young children are helping them be better prepared to start school. They can increase their child’s language skills by asking questions, using rhymes and talking about what they are doing, even if it is household tasks like talking about colors when folding laundry. The GLB will provide information to parents, caregivers, and community members as well as learning activities for their young children.
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United Way Born Learning Trail: Signage
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THE ADDED EXPERIENCE In order to be a truly unique resource for the community, the GLB will be customized, depending the nature of the participants (family, childcare center, class, family childcare group, Head Start class, school group, and of course the age of the children). Early Learning Focus (ELF) is an early childhood educational group in the community that has been working with the Wilson Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers and their students for two years as, well as neighboring childcare centers. ELF is taking the lead on creating customized guides to the GLB that reflect the Reggio Emilia principles and build the foundation for Common Core Standards. Its staff has developed curriculum materials for early childhood teachers and families for over 25 years. The ELF Resource and Training Center, housed at Wilson these past two years, will be moving to the Arts and Wellness Center in the spring of 2015 to better serve the larger community and work on the GLB. It provides resources—books, games, puzzles, CDs, and theme boxes full of activities for teachers and childcare providers, and will be expanding its services to families. ELF staff with their knowledge of child development, early childhood education and parenting education and the Broadmoor community is the perfect group to facilitate the creation of the GLB and then be responsible for its growth and maintenance. The GLB concretizes the community’s commitment to families and the recognition that its lifeblood is its healthy children—healthy in mind, body, and emotions. And it can be the model for similar Gardens of Learning around the city and even beyond.
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Broadmoor Learning Garden arts and wellness center
early learning focus works with teachers and students
Proximity to Broadmoor Learning Garden 11
WELCOME AREA: Benefit: To introduce entrants to the Garden of Learning that awaits inside and outside of our staged area. It serves as a link for families to additional resources to enhance the GLB experience and their everyday interactions with their children. It will be inviting and create anticipation for the current and future experiences. Signage: Welcome and greetings in multiple languages. Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Archway, Gate, Signpost to other family engagement venues in the city, Small Free Library Surfaces: Grass
Free little library
log reading bench 12
shaded entry
MUSIC AREA: Benefit: The aim of this area is promoting in children: interaction with others, expressing individuality, improving motor skills. It is also designed to encourage parents to enjoy music and movement with children and to extend conversations about daily life and things around them. This area supports all areas of child development. Signage: Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Large xylophone and sunken garbage can drums Surfaces: Grass
Equipment at Langston Hughes Academy
large xylophones 13
DRAMATIC PLAY/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AREA: Benefit: Social Development is the ability to socially interact in an effective, responsive and appropriate way. It is the most critical domain for school readiness and lifelong success. This area offers opportunities to experience positive self-esteem, exhibit an interest in activities and seek out children and adults. Signage: Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Dramatic play structure, stage, puppet theatre, mirror, and seating. Surfaces: Grass, and sand childrens stage
puppet theatre 14
stepping stumps
DRAWING/WRITING AREA Benefit: a place to record your experience at the GLB and also be creative with drawing and writing Signage: Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Chalkboard against library wall, blacktop or slate on ground gives children two surfaces on which to draw and/or write using chalk Surfaces: chalkboard, slate, blacktop
writing surface on ground
chalkboard wall 15
GROSS MOTOR AREA: Benefit: Physical development stimulates children’s curiosity and enables them to explore their environment. GLB provides a safe environment and objects to explore. Providing opportunities for movement – gross/ large movement of limbs and fine manipulative movement of fingers. Signage: Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Balance beam, water table, climbing tree structure, stepping stones Surfaces: grass, foam chips, pavers (cement, pea gravel, river rock)
multi level water table 16
balance beam
COGNITIVE, LITERACY AND SENSORY AREA: Benefit: This area provides experiences leading to a fuller understanding of the immediate world. Promote verbal communication. Enhance problem solving and logical thinking. Foster skills in discriminating the senses. Signage: Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Learning Gazebo with shapes, colors, letters and numbers to explore in a variety of engaging activities. Surfaces: Sand and grass
educational play
Learning gazebo 17
CENTER LAWN AREA: Benefit: This area provides a flexible space where adults and children can comfortably engage in the garden. The structures, that fit adults and children, are intended to spark imagination and foster conversation. It also offers a great view of the projection area on the library wall, when films and other visuals are presented. Signage: Info Boxes containing additional activities and/or related community resources. Main Feature/Fixture: Normal sized vehicles, picnic tables Surfaces: Grass and pea gravel
picnic area 18
outdoor performances
CONTACT INFORMATION/ OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT Lisa Schlakman: lisa@earlylearningfocus.org Lanette Dumas: lanette@broadmoorimprovement.com Elizabeth Stelter at NOPL: ella.stelter@gmail.com
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VISUALIZATION
WELCOME AREA:
Archway, Gate, Signpost to other family engagement venues in the city, Small Free Library
COGNITIVE, LITERACY AND SENSORY AREA:
Learning Gazebo with shapes, colors, letters and numbers to explore in a variety of engaging activities. 20
MUSIC AREA:
Large xylophone and sunken can drums
CENTER LAWN AREA:
Normal sized vehicles, picnic tables
DRAMATIC PLAY/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AREA:
Dramatic play structure, stage, puppet theatre, mirror, and seating.
GROSS MOTOR AREA:
Climbing Tree Sculpture, Balance beam, water table, stepping stones
DRAWING/WRITING AREA: Chalkboard against library wall, blacktop or slate on ground
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