Valley of the Sun Chapter AzAEYC is pleased to announce a grant award to Flip this Playground for Sunrise Elementary Head Start. Because we are an all volunteer Arizona non-profit, all of the funds will be used to build a Mariposa Garden – a sanctuary for Monarch butterflies.

In partnership with Arizona Head Start and Deer Valley School District, we are transforming hardscape playgrounds into outdoor classrooms.  We flip this playground by providing outdoor libraries, unique gardens, music centers, unusual pathways and small group centers which support foundational literacy and scientific inquiry. 

FLIP THIS PLAYGROUND is more than just changing the outdoor environment.  The focus of the initiative is professional learning.  In this, we are supporting teachers in the transformation of practice by bringing traditional classroom activities outdoors and then bringing natural, found materials (rocks, leaves, flowers, insects) back into the indoors. We are getting rid of worksheets and engaging children in real hands-on, full body learning and development. Making the learning real and enjoyable and putting the FUN back into professional learning. We are grateful to DEY for helping us get it done!