By Casey Neill
A 114-metre dry river bed runs through Noble Park Primary.
“It gives an opportunity for kids to have lots of natural play,” principal David Rothstadt said.
“They naturally find something to do.”
So far students have created a dry stone wall, a Native American hut and more.
“Kids are allowed to climb trees here,” Mr Rothstadt said.
“We’re expanding our developmental learning approach to the outside yard.
“They should learn everywhere.
“The environment is like a second teacher.”
Mr Rothstadt said the school had invested $140,000-plus in that second teacher, and pointed out that one teacher could cost $100,000 a year.
“This teacher’s going to be here forever,” he said.
The school officially launched the river bed and “forest” of 60 red flaming maples on Thursday 8 December.
The event featured a traditional smoking ceremony and welcome to country from Wurundjeri Elders, Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus and Marc Armitage, professional play worker and children’s play consultant.
Mr Rothstadt said expanding development learning from the classroom to the school yard started at Noble Park Primary about six years ago.
The school worked with a play coach to shape its plans.
There’s a shipping container filled with industrial materials – dubbed a play pod – that children open every day and use to build swings and other playthings.
Mr Rothstadt said that despite the apparent safety risks, the school’s most dangerous locations were the basketball courts and fixed playgrounds.
“It’s a matter of managing risk, talking to kids about what’s safe and what’s not,” he said.
A bushland area features stumps, trunks and branches that Mr Rothstadt collected and school connections donated.
“It’s now reached the stage where it’s bushland,” he said.
“This has been my labour of love.”
He said lizards, insects and birds had moved in, expanding the opportunities for science studies.
There’s a new rock wall around the large gum tree that features in the school’s logo.
“We wanted to celebrate this space further,” Mr Rothstadt said.
Indigenous plants fill the space and an $18,000 Health Department grant for shade funded the flaming maples, which have already weathered wild winds.
“I have been out here putting bandages and cable ties on them,” he said.
“It will make them strong.
“In about two years it will be a forest.
“The trees will create natural shade.”
A kitchen garden has grown larger and stronger since it was first planted four years ago, and includes a pizza oven and seats and other features decorated by students.
The school sells eggs from its chooks to the community, and the school dog is a pet for the many children who miss out on having their own due to living in apartments.
Mr Rothstadt said many students also came from traumatised backgrounds and needed different ways to learn.
“Kids need alternatives. That’s why we’re put hills in,” he said.
“Kids can roll down them and play on them.
“School grounds are notoriously flat and ugly.
“They get to play naturally.
“Children and adults learn through play and exploration.
“You have to create the environment to do that.”
Schools from across Australia and even overseas visit Noble Park Primary for ideas, and “supporting other schools to do what we do” is Mr Rothstadt’s next project.
