Sarah Radwell and Samara Castles created a teepee out of pallets which the children have already been using for various different uses such as a quiet space, a ladder and in the kitchen.
The educators from Gundagai Preschool late last year completed a Pallet Play workshop with Aaron from Pallet Play where they learned how to safely use power tools and to re-use and re-purpose pallets, to create sustainable playground resources.
Stacey Smith, Gundagai Pre-school Director said the workshop was initially undertaken as part of a professional development, end of year staff bonding activity.
“It was initiated from one of our staff members, Miss Sarah, who has an interest in sustainable play and using resources within the environment for the children to develop a better understanding of sustainable resources, and how we can reuse and recycle.”
“Sarah organised for Aaron to come and do the professional development session with us. We were hoping to use the resources that we built as a flexible approach to our outdoor learning in that the children can use the items through role play and within their everyday play.”
“Aaron came and taught us how to use the power tools, he incorporated safety and he was very hands on and allowed us to use our creativity also,” Stacey said.
The preschool had six staff mem-bers participate in the workshop, and between the three teams they made three items. All 3 resources made at the workshop are open ended and can be used for any kind of imaginative play.
“Children might use these resources in their role play or any kind of imaginative play. The teepee we made is currently being used in the kitchen and the children have been taking their cooking in there, it could also be used as a quiet space where they can add pillows and soft cushions, and it has also been used as a ladder,” Stacey said.
“Aaron made the session informative with different techniques that could be incorporated ourself moving forward. Our plan hopefully is to source some pallets, they have to be specific untreated pallets, and once sourced using the tools that he gave us, we will be able to make some different types of materials and items that we can use in the playground,” Stacey said.
Stacey said the main idea behind creating open-ended resources out of used pallets is to enable children to develop an understanding of sustainability.
“At Gundagai Preschool, we’re always looking for ways to embed sustainability into our practice. Aaron showed us how simple materials — like repurposed timber — can spark creativity, problem solving, and hands-on learning for children.”
“A major focus for us in our programming is for the children to develop an understanding of sustainability. We really want to show them the beginning to the end, that you can use things that were originally for a purpose and turn it in to something new,” Stacey said.
“We took lots of photos of the pallets when they were in their original form, and then broken up and with the nails removed, and then building it and then of the finished product in the end. So, the lesson we want to teach is that we can use many different things to make something to reuse it for how we want it to.”
“The children were like, oh, wow, a flat pallet that has things stacked on it has now become a bridge, or a storage box, but we can also take the lid off that box off and use it as a sand tray,” Stacey said.
Stacey also said the beauty of something like this is that the resources are open-ended, and the children can use them however they like. “We put it in to our program, but we ask the children for their input, such as where do they want the item positioned today, can we pick it up and move it, or what other uses are there for it?” Stacey said.
Not only are there huge educational benefits behind creating sustainable, open-ended resources, but Stacey said the team found that a pallet play workshop was a really great team bonding activity.
“It was the perfect way to finish off the preschool year—working together, laughing, and getting a little sawdust in our hair! It’s safe to say we all walked away with fresh ideas and a renewed appreciation for the beauty of up-cycled play.”
-Emily Flint
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.
