Why use your schoolyard?
By the time the average student reaches sixth grade, he has spent close to 2,000 hours, or 83 consecutive days, in schoolyards (Edward Cheskey, “How Schoolyard Influence Behavior”). This amounts to approximately twenty percent of the total time spent at school. DC Schoolyard Greening (DCSG) recognizes that schoolyards are critical habitats for children, as well as for birds, butterflies, insects, and other wildlife. DCSG encourages the use and improvement of schoolyard sites, which have tremendous potential to enrich learning, encourage environmental stewardship and cultivate a sense of place.
"Learning about the world should start
where you are. A thorough understanding of your school and schoolyard
form the best foundation for understanding the world at large."
–Caryl Williams, Tuckahoe Elementary School in Arlington, VA
Schoolyards projects do just that – they capitalize on the resources
readily available to students and teachers to reinforce concepts taught
in the classroom. Taking students outdoors allows learning to become more
fun, hands-on, interdisciplinary and relevant. Outdoor learning projects
have been shown to improve behavior, attendance and attitudes of students,
compared to traditional curricula.
The Importance
of Outdoor Learning Projects:
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Are schoolyard greening projects only for science teachers?
Nearly all subjects can be taught in and applied to schoolyards and incorporated
in schoolyard greening projects. Planting and caring for a vegetable garden
aids in the study of agriculture, nutrition and botany. Mapping your schoolyard’s
storm drains and calculating stormwater runoff adds a real world application
to the study of mathematics and physics. Adding a birdhouse to your site
inspires inquiry and observation. Rain gardens, natural trails and roof
gardens provide spaces for writing and reflection. Teaching outdoors in
a practical, hands-on setting offers opportunities for students who do
not succeed in a traditional classroom setting to excel.
What are the benefits?
In addition to many educational benefits, schoolyard greening projects can attract more wildlife to your site and benefit your local ecosystem. Planting native species, increasing the tree canopy, or adding new landscape features like rain or vegetable gardens, will improve your schoolyard habitat and increase the site’s biodiversity and health. Some schoolyard projects help to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality on your site and in your watershed, others improve air quality or draw new bird species to your site. In addition to these critical environmental benefits, schoolyard greening projects beautify your school grounds.
How do I begin?
Starting a schoolyard greening project is easier than it might seem.
Schoolyards are free to visit and easily accessible. Schoolyards are also
familiar spaces to students, which helps to ease the transition from the
classroom to working outdoors. You might choose to start small with a
bird feeder or storm drain stenciling project and ramp up to more complex
projects as you and your students become more comfortable learning in
your schoolyard. The cost is relatively low for many of these projects
and there are many grants available both locally and nationally for those
requiring funds. (See Grants
Providers for more info)
Will the project fit with the curriculum I teach?
Incorporating a schoolyard greening project into your curriculum is quite manageable. Nearly all of the projects reinforce concepts you’re already teaching and can help you to meet the District’s standards. (Check out the Curricular Resources sections for some examples)
There are endless opportunities to use your site, which are as diverse and as varied as schoolyards themselves.
Considerations for choosing a schoolyard greening project:
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