ll, the wood-pile,
Mother Earth to dig in, furnish ideal equipment for the muscle
development of little people and of their own nature afford the
essential requisites for creative and dramatic play. To their
surpassing fitness for "laboratory" purposes each new generation bears
testimony. If the furnishings of a deliberately planned environment
are to compare with them at all they must lend themselves to the same
freedom of treatment.

The apparatus shown here was made by a local carpenter, and could
easily be constructed by high school pupils with the assistance of the
manual training teacher.

The ground has been covered With a layer of fine screened gravel, a
particularly satisfactory treatment for very little children, as it is
relatively clean and dries quickly after rain. It does not lend itself
to the requirements of organized games, however, and so will not
answer for children who have reached that stage of play development.

A number of building bricks, wooden boxes of various sizes, pieces of
board and such "odd lumber" with a few tools and out-of-door toys
complete the yard's equipment.

[Illustration: THE SEE-SAW.]*

THE SEE SAW

BOARD--Straight grain lumber, 1-1/8" x 9" x 12'-0".

Two cleats 1-1/4" x 9" bolted to the under side of the board to act
as a socket on the hip of the horse.

HORSE--Height 25". Length 22-1/2". Spread of feet at ground 20". Legs
built of 2" x 3" material. Hip of 2" x 3" material. Brace under hip of
7/8" material.

NOTE--All figures given are for outside measurements. Apparatus except
see-saw board and sliding board should be painted, especially those
parts which are to be put into the ground.

[Illustration: THE STAND AND SLIDE.]*

THE STAND AND SLIDE

STAND OR PLATFORM--26" wide, 30" long, 5'-4" high.

Top made of 1-3/8" tongue and groove material.

Uprights or legs of 2" x 3" material.

Cleats nailed to front legs 6-1/4" apart to form ladder are of
1-1/8" x 1-3/4" material.

Cross bracing of 7/8" x 2-1/4" material.

Apron under top made of 7/8" x 5" material nailed about 1-1/8" below
to act as additional bracing and provide place of attachment for
iron hooks secured to sliding board.

The stand is fastened to the ground by dogs or pieces of wood buried
deep enough (about 3') to make it secure.

SLIDE--Straight grain piece of lumber, 1-1/8" x 12" x 12'-0".

Two hooks at upper end of sliding board are of iron, about 3/8" x