School Parks Research Articles

Heat-Resilient Schoolyards: Relations Between Temperature, Shade, and Physical Activity of Children During Recess.

Extreme heat may discourage physical activity of children while shade may provide thermal comfort. The authors determined the associations between ambient temperature, shade, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of children during school recess. Children aged 8-10 (n = 213) wore accelerometers and global positioning system monitors during recess at 3 school parks in Austin, Texas (September-November 2019). Weather data originated from 10 sensors per park. The authors calculated shade from imagery using a geographic information system (GIS) and time-matched physical activity, location, temperature, and shade data. The authors specified piecewise multilevel regression to assess relations between average temperature and percentage of recess time in MVPA and shade. Temperature ranged 11 °C to 35 °C. Each 1 °C higher temperature was associated with a 0.7 percentage point lower time spent in MVPA, until 33 °C (91 °F) when the association changed to a 1.5 lower time (P < .01). Each 1 °C higher temperature was associated with a 0.3 percentage point higher time spent under shade, until 33 °C when the association changed to a 3.4 higher time (P < .001). At 33 °C or above, the direct association between shade and MVPA weakened (P < .05), with no interaction effect above 33 °C (P > .05). Children at the park with the most tree canopy spent 6.0 percentage points more time in MVPA (P < .01). Children engage in less MVPA and seek shade during extreme heat and engage in more MVPA in green schoolyards. With climate change, schools should consider interventions (eg,organizing shaded play, tree planting) to promote heat safe MVPA.

Contamination of Soils with Helminthic Eggs in Some Districts of Duhok Governorate / Kurdistan Region-iraq

Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region consists of many districts, where there is a high distribution of animals, presences of public parks and pastures. The present study was conducted in some of districts (Duhok center, Semel, Amadyia and Sharya) of Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region. The current study amid to determine the contamination of soils with helminthic ova and their correlation with the district residents, type of soil and presence of animals (Mainly stray Dogs and Cats). During this study, 533 soil samples were collected randomly from October 2021 to May 2022.&nbsp; The samples were collected from different places such as dog shelters, general parks, groves, Hospital parks, near pastures, near sewage, private gardens, school parks, and near slaughter houses. &nbsp;The collected samples were tested by flotation technique using saturated zinc sulphate (specific gravity 1.2). &nbsp;&nbsp; The total rate of soil contamination with helminthic ova in all examined samples was 23.45% (125 / 533). The highest contamination rate with these ova was reported in soil samples examined from Sharya Camp 53.57% (30/56), while the lowest contamination rate was from Semel district 19.22% (49/255). The rates of ova in soils collected from Amadyia and Duhok center were 23.61% (34/144) and 15.38% (12/78), respectively. Regarding to the locations, soil samples examined from rural areas revealed high rate of contamination 29.33% (107/366) as compared with urban areas, in which the rate was 10.78% (18/167). The contamination rates with helminthic ova according to the type of soil, in clay soil was 26.54%, while in silty and sandy soils were 24.39% and 14.96%, respectively. The contamination rate of soils with these ova was higher in areas populated with animals mainly dogs and cats which was 26.44% (78/295) as compared to areas free from animals 19.75% (47/238) (19. Regarding to different places, the results showed that soils in places close to the sewage were highly contaminated with ova 50.00% (3/6), followed by those near pasture 37.50% (15/40), groves 35.56% (16/35), dog shelters 32.18% (28/87), school Parks 29.41% (10/34), near slaughter houses 27.50% (11/40), public places 21.05% (32/152). On the other hand, the lowest contamination of the soil with these ova was recorded in private gardens 8.26% (10/121), while the soil samples from hospital parks were free from parasitic ova. According to the type of helminths, ova of 6 helminthic genera were reported in all (533) examined soil samples, with Toxocara ova being the most prevalent helminths detected in 34 (6.38%), samples, then ova of Hymenolepis nana in 32 (6.00%), Taeniid ova in 26 (4.88%), Ancylostoma ova in 15 (2.81%), Ascaris ova in 12 (2.25%), and Trichuris ova in 6 (1.13%). &nbsp;In conclusion, the soils of some districts were contaminated with different types of helminthic eggs. Therefore, the people of these districts will be at a high risk of acquiring infection with different species of these parasites when they get contacts with the soil

School Parks as a Community Health Resource: Use of Joint-Use Parks by Children before and during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Parks are settings for physical activity that can support the physical and mental health of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We determined the impact of the pandemic on the use of joint-use parks outside of school hours by children in Austin, TX, United States. In autumn of 2019 and autumn of 2020 (i.e., before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), we used an adapted version of the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities to observe whether children aged 1–12 participated in physical activity (i.e., sedentary, light and moderate, vigorous) at three parks located at schools serving mostly economically disadvantaged Latinx families. In 2020, we also observed whether children maintained social distance and wore face coverings. Results of negative binomial regression modeling revealed the pandemic was associated with a 46% [95% CI: 20–63%] and 62% [95% CI: 39–76%] decrease in the number of girls and boys at parks, respectively, and a 42% [95% CI: 16–59%] and 60% [95% CI: 36–75%] decrease in the number of girls and boys engaging in physical activity, respectively (p < 0.01). In total, 60.6% of girls and 73.6% of boys were not social distancing, and 91.8% of the time no children wore masks. Interventions should be considered to safely reintroduce children to parks for health benefits during pandemics.

Effects of trees, gardens, and nature trails on heat index and child health: design and methods of the Green Schoolyards Project

BackgroundLatinx children in the United States are at high risk for nature-deficit disorder, heat-related illness, and physical inactivity. We developed the Green Schoolyards Project to investigate how green features—trees, gardens, and nature trails—in school parks impact heat index (i.e., air temperature and relative humidity) within parks, and physical activity levels and socioemotional well-being of these children. Herein, we present novel methods for a) observing children’s interaction with green features and b) measuring heat index and children’s behaviors in a natural setting, and a selection of baseline results.MethodsDuring two September weeks (high temperature) and one November week (moderate temperature) in 2019, we examined three joint-use elementary school parks in Central Texas, United States, serving predominantly low-income Latinx families. To develop thermal profiles for each park, we installed 10 air temperature/relative humidity sensors per park, selecting sites based on land cover, land use, and even spatial coverage. We measured green features within a geographic information system. In a cross-sectional study, we used an adapted version of System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to assess children’s physical activity levels and interactions with green features. In a cohort study, we equipped 30 3rd and 30 4th grade students per school during recess with accelerometers and Global Positioning System devices, and surveyed these students regarding their connection to nature. Baseline analyses included inverse distance weighting for thermal profiles and summing observed counts of children interacting with trees.ResultsIn September 2019, average daily heat index ranged 2.0 °F among park sites, and maximum daily heat index ranged from 103.4 °F (air temperature = 33.8 °C; relative humidity = 55.2%) under tree canopy to 114.1 °F (air temperature = 37.9 °C; relative humidity = 45.2%) on an unshaded playground. 10.8% more girls and 25.4% more boys interacted with trees in September than in November.ConclusionsWe found extreme heat conditions at select sites within parks, and children positioning themselves under trees during periods of high heat index. These methods can be used by public health researchers and practitioners to inform the redesign of greenspaces in the face of climate change and health inequities.

Pemanfaatan Alam Sekitar Sebagai Sumber Belajar Mata Pelajaran IPA di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah

The purpose of this study is to describe the use of natural surroundings as a source of learning science subjects. To explore this, a study was conducted using a qualitative approach. In this case, the subject of the study was one of the students who supported the subject who became the class teacher in class V, with a total of 28 students. The method used in data collection is the method of observation, documentation and interviews. To complete the accuracy of the research and the validity of the data it is necessary to use research methods and techniques in order to obtain maximum results. The results obtained from the study are: Utilization of the surrounding environment is a vehicle that can be used as a source of learning that is done in the form of variety and fun when the learning process takes place both in the classroom and outside the classroom. School parks, gardens, and rice fields that are nearby can be used as a source of interesting and fun learning. In implementing the use of the environment as a source of learning, there are obstacles between the lack of an educator's ability to condition learners, which requires a significant amount of time in the implementation process, students feel confused in reviewing the results of activities, and learning resources that are less accommodating.

IOT Based Vehicle Speed Control Automatically in Restricted Areas using RFID

Now-a-days road accidents are occurring frequently, due to rash driving of people. The most unfortunate thing is that by making small mistakes during driving, we lost our valuable future. If we observe, most of the accidents will occur at school zones, parks, hospitals, hill areas and highways. Even a police also can’t monitor all such kind of accidents. So in order to reduce the number of accidents and to control the vehicle speed the highway department has placed the signboards. But it is difficult to observe such kind of signboards and hence accidents will occur. This paper will provide a new way for controlling the speed of the vehicle without harming others. In this paper, we are using RFID module to limit vehicle speed. The RF transmitter will be placed at first and last of the restricted areas and RFID receiver should be placed inside the vehicle. The vehicle speed was obtained by speedometer which is available in vehicle. And that speed is compared and monitored by the controller. If the vehicle speed exceeds the limited speed, It automatically controls the speed of the vehicle according to that particular zone. Hence, automatically the speed reduced. If there is any emergency, a switch will be available in the vehicle. When the switch is ON, the speed is not controlled automatically. The vehicle which is switched ON, that vehicle number was stored in cloud. Here the main purpose of cloud is it loads the route map of the vehicle.

Enseñanza y utopía. Iniciativas asociadas en la arquitectura moderna uruguaya

La inserción de ideas utópicas en la arquitectura moderna uruguaya, durante la primera mitad del siglo XX, resulta comprobable en programas de alto interés social, como la enseñanza y su posibilidad de desarrollo en infraestructuras edilicias diferentes, entendidas estas como ámbitos para la formación de un hombre nuevo, en fuerte comunión con la naturaleza. Un ejemplo ilustrativo de esa búsqueda utópica lo constituye la idea de Parques Escolares, desarrollada por el filósofo Carlos Vaz Ferreira y materializada a través de distintos anteproyectos arquitectónicos, a finales de la década de 1920. Algunas obras realizadas en los años de 1930, todavía recogen algunas de estas ideas, aun cuando ya no resulten proyectos directamente asociados a los Parques Escolares: se trata de las llamadas Escuelas Experimentales, proyectadas por el arquitecto Juan Scasso.

Evaluation and Characterization of Environmental Risks and Asthma Management Knowledge and Awareness Through Surveys of Coaches, Athlete Parents/Guardians, and Athletes

Objective. Athletes may face unique barriers to asthma management and are exposed to many different environmental factors while playing sports. The authors’ goal was to study participation in sports and perceptions of environmental exposures (health risks) and barriers to asthma management for adolescent and young adult athletes. The need for asthma education among coaches was also investigated. Methods. This study targeted 3 populations: (a) coaches of middle school through college level athletes, (b) parents/guardians of middle school through college level athletes, and (c) college athletes. Online surveys were conducted anonymously. Questions addressed sport-specific asthma management barriers, perceived environmental exposures (health risks), athlete training intensities, and asthma knowledge and awareness among surveyed coaches. Results. There were 120 participants (26 coaches, 37 college athletes, 57 athlete parents/guardians). Most reported perceived environmental health concerns and potential barriers to asthma management for athletes, with 94% and 84% of participants reporting at least one, respectively. There were observed differences in the numbers of environmental health concerns and potential barriers to asthma management reported per person across surveyed populations depending on sport, training intensity, and athlete asthma status. The percentage of correct responses by coaches to 5 asthma knowledge questions ranged from 12% to 88%. Conclusions. Research should further investigate how to prioritize and develop interventions to address potential barriers to asthma management for adolescent athletes in both school and community parks and recreation facility settings. Additionally, solutions are needed to mitigate outdoor and indoor environmental health concerns of athletes. Coaches may benefit from increased asthma awareness and educational interventions aimed at improving asthma knowledge specific to athletics.

46. The Influence of School Neighborhood Safety and Parks and Recreation Resources on Middle School Students' Physical Activity Levels

THE INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND PARKS AND RECREATION RESOURCES ON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS Courtney E. Walls, MPH, Tracy K. Richmond, MD, MPH, Emily A. Blood, PhD, S. Bryn Austin, ScD, Mary L. Greaney, PhD, Jennifer Spadano-Gasbarro, PhD, Monica L. Wang, MSc, Solomon Mezgebu, MSc, Karen E. Peterson, DSc. Children’s Hospital Boston Childrens Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School Harvard School of Public Health, Childrens Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health Student Harvard School of Public Health Massachusetts Department of Public Health University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, School of Public Health

School Parks for Equal Opportunities

School Parks for Equal Opportunities