Alternative outdoor seating comes just in time at Klager
Ms. Melissa Yekulis’ class enjoyed some of the warm November days with their versatile new outdoor seating that was purchased by a fund-raising project through Donors Choose
Students in Ms. Melissa Yekulis’ kindergarten class were the recipients of some “comfy, squishy, and good” chairs to use outdoors when the weather is right as a special learning incentive.
The project was funded by local donations to Donors Choose, an online “wish list” for teachers to fund-raise for special projects. At least eight local residents and parents were happy to donate to Ms. Yekulis’ cause, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matched all donations supporting the teacher’s project during the donation timeframe.
Yekulis stated in her request to donors, “My classroom has a ‘mini back yard’ behind us that I would like to utilize as instructional space. While it is great we are coming back to school, when the weather is right, I would like to have my students learning, outdoors, as much as possible. The fresh air will be good for all of us, there should be plenty of shade provided by trees, it will be easier to spread out, and being outside together may help ease the transition back to school for my new learners. Young children love being outside. I want to merge learning and the great outdoors together for them!”
It has been her hope that using the specially designed outdoor seating would make learning outdoors “more engaging and relaxing.”
She continued, “Students will have the option to sit on cushions or in rock chairs. The cushions are made of vinyl and the rock chairs are made of plastic, so they will be easy to sanitize after every single use! And by being outdoors, practicing social distancing will be a snap.”
While the chairs were ordered in August to arrive in time for school to start, they sadly didn’t arrive until early November. Fortunately, Michigan was blessed with some beautiful 60 and 70-degree days in the late fall and the kindergartners were eager to utilize their new outdoor seating.
Here are some of the kids’ comments about why they enjoyed the chairs:
“I think the bucket chairs are nice because they can go backwards. I like the flat ones because they can make you more comfortable.”
“They can go rocking.”
“These rocking chairs are kind of good for my spine because they are rocky.”
“If it gets dirty on the front, you can flip it over and it can get nice and clean.”
“I love this one because it’s so rocky.”
“I like all of the colors on the chairs.”
“I like this one (the rocking chair) because it can go back and forth.”
“I notice these are squishy and I like the colors.”
Yekulis expressed her sadness that these came so late, but adds, “I’m so happy we got to enjoy them for at least a few times before the Michigan weather turns its head for the winter season. These are a great tool for helping us learn while enjoying some fresh air. We will definitely be getting these back out when spring returns!”
These chairs are “rocky and squishy!”
Ms. Yekulis’ young learners enjoyed their outdoor time after a long season of indoor learning.
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