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Webster Elementary students tell board imaginative play materials boost teamwork and resilience
Summary
A group of Webster Elementary students described their school's ‘loose parts’ imaginative-play program, a grant-funded initiative and a new after‑school club that staff and students say builds social skills and creativity.
Students from Webster Elementary on the board agenda described a classroom-to-playground initiative that adds “loose parts” materials to recess and an after‑school program called Imagine Plus to expand supervised, student‑led play.
What students told the board: Multiple students introduced themselves and said the program uses items such as wooden planks, tires, fabric, buckets, PVC pipe and kitchen utensils to support imaginative play. Students told board members the materials let them build castles, racetracks and playhouses and help them practice sharing, collaboration, problem‑solving and perseverance.
Funding and organization: Students said Webster received a Making a Difference grant to buy more materials and that a student leadership team taught classrooms how to use the materials safely and kindly. The school’s parent‑teacher organization will help supervise the after‑school Imagine Plus club, which students described as adult-supervised but student-led play held at school and neighborhood parks.
Why the board reacted: Board members praised the students’ presentation; one board member told the students, “I am in tears,” and encouraged them to continue. Students said the program has reduced screen time at school and offered concrete examples of play activities and how they promote resilience.
Ending: Students invited board members and the public to visit Webster and to donate materials for the program. The board did not take formal action on the presentation; it was received as part of the meeting’s regular reports.
