Year
2022
Season
Fall
Paper Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
College of Education and Human Services
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Department
Education
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Leadership, School Counseling & Sports Management
First Advisor
Dr. Katrina Hall
Second Advisor
Dr. Hope Wilson
Third Advisor
Dr. Paul Parkison
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Anne Swanson
Department Chair
Dr. Amanda Blakewood Pascale
College Dean
Dr. Jennifer Kane
Abstract
Unstructured outdoor play is critical to a child’s healthy development. Often the only outdoor unstructured play opportunities occur during recess. Unstructured play and recess are supported as childhood necessities and human rights by the American Pediatric Association and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. These pronouncements and grass roots support have fueled the creation of legislation that requires recess during the elementary school day. As of 2022, Florida was one of 10 states enacting legislation requiring recess. However, the maximization of the recess experience is largely dependent on the quality of the space and facilities that provide for that experience. The development, renovation, and maintenance of those spaces and facilities are often not addressed.
This dissertation explores how an urban professional development school’s outdoor spaces accommodate and holistically support a student’s needs and how those spaces can be designed to maximize a student’s cognitive, emotional, social and cultural needs. Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory of Human Development was used to create an ecological connection between the spaces and activities of the school’s recess and its students. This study explores the existing recess practices and outdoor play spaces at the study school through the author’s on-site observations, interviews with the school’s principal, executive director, and physical education teacher, and two design charrettes conducted with faculty volunteers. The result is an inventory and analysis of the school’s existing outdoor facilities and the creation of a program and conceptual design that will help the leaders optimize the school’s outdoor space for unstructured outdoor play during recess.
Suggested Citation
Wheeler, Ellen, "Incorporating Recess into the Ecosystem of the School" (2022). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1153.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1153