Maintaining an Outdoor Laboratory Sheri Higgs

Background In the school year, the Environmental Science class created and built an outdoor laboratory. This lab included a greenhouse and raised beds for cultivating plants. In the school year, the Environmental Science class created and built an outdoor laboratory. This lab included a greenhouse and raised beds for cultivating plants. The students were responsible for all phases of the project from obtaining permission from the School Board to the construction of the greenhouse. The students were responsible for all phases of the project from obtaining permission from the School Board to the construction of the greenhouse.

We started with this

And at the end of the year

We accomplished this!

Ongoing challenge Outdoor laboratories can be a maintenance nightmare. Our challenge is to provide continued maintenance and upgrades to the area. Outdoor laboratories can be a maintenance nightmare. Our challenge is to provide continued maintenance and upgrades to the area.

FACTS based lesson Summary of Proposed Lesson: Students will develop a plan for the maintenance, use and sustainability of the school’s existing greenhouse and outdoor laboratory. The plan will include maintenance of the grounds surrounding the greenhouse, the structure and the planting area. It will also need to provide for obtaining needed materials for any repairs and/or upgrades to the area and structures. Students will also collaborate with other grades and science classes to determine the needs for any projects for other classes. The process will require creating, presenting, receiving approval for, and implementing plans for procuring any funds necessary for purchase of materials, plants and supplies. Students will develop a plan for the maintenance, use and sustainability of the school’s existing greenhouse and outdoor laboratory. The plan will include maintenance of the grounds surrounding the greenhouse, the structure and the planting area. It will also need to provide for obtaining needed materials for any repairs and/or upgrades to the area and structures. Students will also collaborate with other grades and science classes to determine the needs for any projects for other classes. The process will require creating, presenting, receiving approval for, and implementing plans for procuring any funds necessary for purchase of materials, plants and supplies.

Foundations Literacy Symbolic Competence: Symbolic Competence: –Students will research various forms of media such as internet, periodicals, books and videos to determine appropriate methods of maintaining greenhouses and gardens. Students will also search catalogs, both print and web based, for materials necessary to perform the needed maintenance as well as plant matter required. Students will make, use and interpret spreadsheets, graphs and charts to both assist in decision making and discourse.

Foundations Literacy Cognitive Processes: Cognitive Processes: –To determine the most appropriate methods for maintaining the outdoor laboratory, students will need to process information gained through their research and interviews and apply it to the various tasks. Discourse Forms: Discourse Forms: –Students will express their synthesized knowledge in various forms. These forms will include, but are not limited to spreadsheets, presentation to School Board, advertisement for “fund raisers”, communications with vendors, and any grant proposals.

Foundations Problem Solving Strategies: Strategies: –Team building, informational analysis, interviewing, data analysis, budgeting, scheduling –Team building, informational analysis, interviewing, data analysis, budgeting, scheduling Authentic Anchored Problem: Authentic Anchored Problem: –The school district has built an outdoor laboratory which includes a greenhouse. The laboratory requires maintenance and upkeep. In addition, various elementary and Junior High classes need to use the lab for their projects. Since the lab is in it’s early stages of development, the district is open to upgrading the area. However, funds are severely limited. The problem to solve will be how to maintain and upgrade the lab area as well as provide necessary materials for class projects on limited funds available.

Foundations Knowledge Disciplinary Structures: Disciplinary Structures: –Environmental Science: climate, niche, habitat, water resources, native plants, artificial environments, pest and weed control chemicals. – Economics: budgeting, comparison shopping, negotiation –Ag Science: construction, estimation, horticulture. Disciplinary Processes: Disciplinary Processes: –Students will use be using the problem solving process which include the following: laboratory investigations, plan and implement investigative procedures, formulating testable hypotheses, selecting appropriate equipment and technology, collecting data, analysis of promotional material.

Foundations Knowledge Disciplinary Discourse: Disciplinary Discourse: –Students will create and share a(n):  prioritized list of maintenance tasks to be completed  spreadsheet showing costs of any material or plant matter  budget for completion of the maintenance portion of project  timeline for completion of the current year project  schedule for use of the area by interested classes  presentation for the School Board outlining the funds needed and the types of fund raising activities (plant sale, salsa sale, grants, etc.) the students wish to implement  advertisements for any fund raising activities  photographic “scrapbook” of the year’s activities to be shared on the class website  end of year presentation for the School Board

Foundations Using Information The students will search, sort, create, and communicate the information gathered from their research. The students will also implement the concepts to design, decode, encode, construct, and explore proper techniques for maintaining the lab area. The majority of information that the students gather will require analytical thinking skills, problem solving skills, interpreting data, using previous knowledge, and interpreting knowledge to create a solution to a particular problem. The students will search, sort, create, and communicate the information gathered from their research. The students will also implement the concepts to design, decode, encode, construct, and explore proper techniques for maintaining the lab area. The majority of information that the students gather will require analytical thinking skills, problem solving skills, interpreting data, using previous knowledge, and interpreting knowledge to create a solution to a particular problem.

Foundations Community Students will work in cooperative and collaborative groups to determine tasks needed for ongoing maintenance of the greenhouse and laboratory area. Students will work in cooperative and collaborative groups to determine tasks needed for ongoing maintenance of the greenhouse and laboratory area. Students must cooperate in performing the actual maintenance tasks as well as horticultural tasks to ensure an appropriate learning environment for all classes who use the greenhouse and laboratory area. Students must cooperate in performing the actual maintenance tasks as well as horticultural tasks to ensure an appropriate learning environment for all classes who use the greenhouse and laboratory area. Students will also communicate and work with local nursery owners who will serve as mentors. Communication will be via and face-to-face interaction. Students will also communicate and work with local nursery owners who will serve as mentors. Communication will be via and face-to-face interaction. Progress of maintenance and projects will be shared within the school and local community through class website, school newspaper and local newspapers. Progress of maintenance and projects will be shared within the school and local community through class website, school newspaper and local newspapers.

Activities Authentic Activities 1. Interview local Master Gardner to determine type of plants and planting methods 2. Meet and interview local nursery owner for input on maintaining greenhouse and plants 3. Meet and interview County Extension Agents for input on local insects and their control 4. Meet and interview teachers to determine their needs for class projects 5. Meet and interview maintenance department to determine proper methods for requesting any maintenance students cannot perform (example: use of chemicals for insect and weed control) 6. Create pictorial log of trip to botanical gardens 7. Assist teacher with writing grant proposal

Activities Background Activities 1. Field trip to Waco and Ft. Worth botanical gardens 2. Research grant opportunities 3. Use internet search engines, magazines and catalogs to research maintenance aspects 4. Tutorials on use software programs for budgeting 5. A tutorial on the use of digital still and video cameras 6. Examples of Photo Story projects will be shown and students will work in pairs to create short Photo Stories about themselves in order to learn the software 7. Business Ed teacher will be asked to present information on proper budgeting techniques 8. Superintendent will be asked to present information on proper methods for use of school funds and monies from grants and fundraising

Activities Constructing Activities 1. Create a maintenance plan/timeline 2. Create brochure for fund raising activities 3. Create digital photo or video record of maintenance and projects 4. Create class web page “scrapbook” for presentation of the photo or video record 5. Create budget for purchasing materials and plants 6. Create database or spreadsheet for tracking budget, profit, loss 7. Create and present multimedia presentation for School Board 8. Create schedule for use of greenhouse lab area by other classes

Activities Sharing Activities 1. Presentation to School Board at beginning and end of year 2. Share and maintain lab schedule with other classes and teachers 3. Work with maintenance department on scheduling and completion of activities maintenance department will have to complete 4. Work collaboratively and cooperatively to keep a well maintained lab area 5. Local and school newspaper articles 6. Digital record on school website

Contents TEKS Environmental Systems Environmental Systems –(1)(A,B) ; (2)(A,B,C,D); (3)(B,D); (4)(A,B,C,D,E); (5)(B,C,D,E,F); (7)(A,C); (8) (C,D) Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits – (3)(A); (4)(A,B); (7)(A); (23)(A,C,E)

Tools Tools 1. Magazines and periodicals from library 2. Catalogs (both print and online) from gardening supply companies 3. Spreadsheet software 4. Database software 5. Digital still camera 6. Digital video camera 7. Web design tools 8. Photo and video processing software 9. Gardening tools 10. Computer 11. Printer 12. Projector 13. Financial software 14. Plant material

Systems of Assessment Assessment 1. Rubrics for 1.Brochure 2.Multimedia presentation 3.Maintained greenhouse lab area 4.Spreadsheets 5.Class website 2. Adherence to timeline 3. Profits on fund raising

Learning Environment Environment Students will be in groups of 4. In the classroom, students desks will be arranged in their groups. Students will be in groups of 4. In the classroom, students desks will be arranged in their groups. Students will have access to computers and printers in both the classroom and the high School computer lab. Students will have access to computers and printers in both the classroom and the high School computer lab. The library will also be available for the students to have access to magazines, periodicals and books. The library will also be available for the students to have access to magazines, periodicals and books. Digital cameras, photo and video processing software will also be available for students to record their progress. Digital cameras, photo and video processing software will also be available for students to record their progress. Much of the time will be spent outdoors determining the maintenance requirements and performing the tasks. Students will have access to the necessary gardening tools and implements. Much of the time will be spent outdoors determining the maintenance requirements and performing the tasks. Students will have access to the necessary gardening tools and implements.

Learning Environment