Who knew playgrounds could start in math classrooms? California middle school teacher Marc Petrie has found a way to make his lessons about parallel and perpendicular lines seem like recess. Instead of just teaching his eighth graders the standard curriculum, he challenged his kids to build design models of playground equipment.

His students, divided into groups, did the designs first on paper. They drew to scale what their dream playspaces would like look like – one included a merry go round, another had two tree houses that were connected by a slide. Another group included skatepark staples like half pipes and rails. Now, the kids are creating models of the playground using clay or wood.

“They wanted equipment that was geared toward 12- and 13-year-old kids,” Petrie said. “They really want to see their equipment built if possible.”

The students, who live in a concentrated section of Tustin, CA, don’t have any safe places to play, especially for older kids. Petrie sees some real potential in the kids’ designs, which range from the elaborate (indoor soccer fields, a go-kart track, a water park) to the accessible. Petrie invited students from the special needs class to contribute designs that were ADA-accessible.

Petrie has begun the process of finding a place to build a playground that his students helped dream up. He’s trying to get in touch with the local parks and recreation department and even a marine base that is being converted to a school. We’ll post the progress of Petrie and his students as they try to get their playground built!