Halve It Component:
Our project is on the Wellness pillar of our school’s framework.

• Wellness is about looking after ourselves completely, with every cup of tea and every time we nourish ourselves for each and every one of our bodies. To Middle School, Wellness is keeping our feelings and mindsets positive, keeping less anxious or scared and more calm and happy.

Sustainable Development Goal:

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

• The Climbing Walls of Wonder meets SDG 3 because it helps children of all ages to stay active and entertained. Studies have shown that children lose interest in playing in playground equipment at an age of 10-12 and higher, due to playgrounds usually only having equipment intended for only children under 10. 

School Context:
If you look at our new school campus, there is a huge problem: there are absolutely no adolescent play spaces. There's a car park where children play basketball in, but not every person is going to be willing to play basketball every lunch and recess, that’s just boring. Adolescents lose interest in playgrounds since there isn’t much for them to play with, but climbing walls are for almost any age. Adolescents crave risky play, competition, and the thrill of being high above ground, and climbing walls meet all three requirements. While entertaining children, rock climbing also provides strengthening your whole body and improves strategic thinking with a challenge everyone’s looking for.

Liveability

Play spaces are vital community areas that support physical and mental wellbeing, especially to children, while also boosting emotional resilience by providing environments for imaginative, competitive, and risk-based play. They act as shared gathering spots that bring people together and help social connections grow and also encourage children to be active and stimulate their brains while also reducing loneliness and stress by stimulating the brain with play.

Blue Zone

Blue Zones are five specific places around the world where residents live longer and are healthier than anyone else in the world. These people usually have healthy habits such  as eating mostly plant-based foods, staying active but not pushing themselves, spending time with all their loved ones, and living with a strong sense of purpose. These habits enable them to enjoy a quality life.

How might we design a playground with climbing walls that strengthens, thrills, and entertains students during lunch and recess?

The design solution is the Climbing Walls of Wonder. These climbing walls should be located in the carpark at Brown and Jolly, along the sides.

The climbing walls feature a large wall or base to support the grips on it, and will have a dynamic rope to ensure no one falls or hurts themself while climbing. Each of the grips will be specialised for the right grip on hands and feet. Each wall and part of the design will be vibrant and appealing, while also ensuring staying active.

When a student starts climbing these rock climbing walls, their brain and body sparks into action immediately. While climbing enhances strength in muscles and hand-eye coordination, it also stimulates the brain and reduces overwhelming feelings like stress, calming their system down. But it's not just climbing walls. It's any form of play, any way to keep your body active.