Keeping It Loose: Promoting Physical Literacy in Schoolyards Through Landscape Design and Movement Provocations

In this essay, Lisa Sandlos and Rennie Tang investigate the potential for movement to play a more significant role in schoolyard design processes to enhance the physical literacy of middle school youth. This research responds to a need for prioritizing physical literacy for historically marginalized youth whose movement needs are often different from what is currently provided by athletics- focused school programming. The study draws on urban design theory, an ecological approach to psychology, movement/ dance studies research theory, and creativity studies to explore landscape design strategies that have the potential to cultivate a more robust culture of physical literacy in schoolyards.