A small courtyard can become much more than an outdoor play area. With the right materials and a little imagination, it can become a place where young children explore, create, and learn together.
That is exactly what is taking shape at Stonehedge Elementary in Camillus, New York.
The school's Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program is transforming the courtyard next to its classrooms into an engaging outdoor classroom—and Tiny Land is proud to support the project with our mud kitchen.
From Courtyard to Outdoor Classroom
Stonehedge is transforming its courtyard into an engaging outdoor classroom, with a garden, nature-filled sandbox, stepping stones, and open-ended building materials.
The addition of a Tiny Land mud kitchen gives children another way to explore through imaginative play. It can become a pretend café, bakery, or outdoor kitchen—or anything they dream up.
With no single way to play, children are free to create, experiment, and play together. One child might gather leaves or natural materials while another prepares a pretend meal. They can take on different roles, share tools, and develop their own play scenarios.
These simple moments can encourage children to practice:
- Communication through conversation and shared storytelling
- Collaboration through cooperative play and turn-taking
- Problem-solving through experimentation and trial and error
- Independence through choosing what and how they want to play
The experience also connects with Stonehedge's focus on developing “Portrait of a Graduate” characteristics, including being collaborative, responsible, resilient, and kind.
Supporting a Growing Learning Environment
For Tiny Land, supporting Stonehedge Elementary is about contributing to a space that gives children room to use their imaginations, work with others, experiment with new ideas, and learn through play.
We are grateful to be part of Stonehedge's outdoor classroom project and excited to see how students make the mud kitchen their own—whether they are creating pretend recipes, running an imaginary café, or simply discovering what they can make together.
