Creating A Green Space By: Team Eco - Trish Goosen Trish Goosen Suzanne Simpson Suzanne Simpson Diane Wiebe Diane Wiebe Larissa Plante Larissa Plante

Issues Teachers are not going out into the school yard to teach. Students do not know how to play unless there is a man made structure in front of them.

Purpose To provide the opportunity for students to learn about sustainability through the creation of an outdoor learning environment. Through this presentation we hope to offer some suggestions in changing existing school grounds into inviting green spaces.

Connections to Curriculum Lots of opportunities to integrate the outdoor gardens/outdoor learning habitats into each subject areas. It`s an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in one subject area to the work they are doing with their garden Gather background information to help develop a theme garden, students will read reference materials to research information, and then write their plans Gather background information to help develop a theme garden, students will read reference materials to research information, and then write their plans In analyzing garden data, students will be applying math skills In analyzing garden data, students will be applying math skills In studying the effects of erosion on soil, there are opportunities to integrate social studies and science In studying the effects of erosion on soil, there are opportunities to integrate social studies and science Sitting quietly in the garden and drawing the plants or animals that they see them, students will be applying their drawing skills to natural observations Sitting quietly in the garden and drawing the plants or animals that they see them, students will be applying their drawing skills to natural observations Integrating language arts, photography, drawing, history, and science is easy Integrating language arts, photography, drawing, history, and science is easy Students can research the history of their local landscape. Students can even recreate their surrounding neighbourhood in their garden Students can research the history of their local landscape. Students can even recreate their surrounding neighbourhood in their garden

Connections to Curriculum Cont’d Help children learn more about where their food comes from. Students can learn about making better food choices for a healthful diet and eating seasonal foods that are grown locally Help children learn more about where their food comes from. Students can learn about making better food choices for a healthful diet and eating seasonal foods that are grown locally Learning about where food comes from is a wonderful way to connect the school garden to geography and history Learning about where food comes from is a wonderful way to connect the school garden to geography and history Put together a class cookbook of favourite recipes using the crops from your class garden Put together a class cookbook of favourite recipes using the crops from your class garden Science: How insects help pollinate plants in the garden Science: How insects help pollinate plants in the garden Students show a more in-depth for all nature’s beauty Students show a more in-depth for all nature’s beauty Please see: html Please see: html html html

Developing The Green Space EnvironmentalSocialEconomic Cognitive impacts Affective impacts Students enjoyed and highly motivated by gardening Attitude and pride in garden and gardening enhanced student bonding, teamwork and learning opportunities Habitat restoration, tree planting, food gardening Encouraging exploration of the natural world Interest in environmental issues and action School sells its vegetables, herbs, herb vinegars, and potted plants from their garden at the Farmers’ Market Local businesses, bookstores, local farmers, garden clubs Cognitive impacts Affective impacts Interpersonal and Social impacts Reduced negative emotions Developing capacities for creativity, problem-solving and emotional and intellectual development Motivation for teaching increased Adults appear to relate differently to children in outdoor environment Promoting more active, more imaginative and more constructive play Promoting more civil behaviour Green school ground promotes more cooperative play Supports a wide variety of play activities, enhancing the quality of active play, inviting great community use of the school ground and physical activity Habitat restoration, tree planting, food gardening Involve community members in gardening and maintenance activities Used by community members during non-school times Especially important for individuals from lower-income communities who have limited access to public green space for play and physical activity Recycle products used in the classroom, school, home and their school (repurpose screen and sieves, donate rakes, etc.) Make and use a compost Engage in trade and barter of goods and services

A Crack In The Pavement

Activity Each group will be given 15 minutes to create their own outdoor learning environment.

Instructions Each group will be given a map to design an outdoor learning environment Each group will be given a map to design an outdoor learning environment Each group must adhere to their approved budget Each group must adhere to their approved budget Each group is encouraged to respect the existing features of the school yard Each group is encouraged to respect the existing features of the school yard

Budget

Ideas To Consider Stream Stream Boerum Boerum Outdoor classroom design Outdoor classroom design Circle of Trees Circle of Trees Shaded area Shaded area Grass maze Grass maze Different types of gardens Different types of gardens Pile of boulders Pile of boulders A mud pit A mud pit Walking path Walking path Windmill Windmill Bushes/Shrubs Bushes/Shrubs Sand pile Sand pile Climbing vines/plants/flowers for fences Climbing vines/plants/flowers for fences Artwork on fences Artwork on fences A mural A mural

Surprise! The Parent Council is giving you an additional… The Parent Council is giving you an additional… $5 000 To spend as you see fit

Gallery Walk

Current Lockport School

Mapleton School

École Bonaventure

Current Resources Curriculum development with ESD – suggestions for how to use the outdoors in various subject areas Curriculum development with ESD – suggestions for how to use the outdoors in various subject areas Using existing school yards as ‘outdoor classrooms’ – taking out classes for PE, reading, art, science and using what currently exists Using existing school yards as ‘outdoor classrooms’ – taking out classes for PE, reading, art, science and using what currently exists Professional Development Opportunities – Dept. of Ed – Anne MacDiarmid; Online community – M.A.P.L.E. Professional Development Opportunities – Dept. of Ed – Anne MacDiarmid; Online community – M.A.P.L.E.

Continued… School Divisions using a common place (Divisional , for example) for teachers to find resources School Divisions using a common place (Divisional , for example) for teachers to find resources

Considerations For Developing A Green Space Committee – teachers, EA’s, parents, administration Committee – teachers, EA’s, parents, administration Survey staff, students, community – their needs/ideas/types/what to include Survey staff, students, community – their needs/ideas/types/what to include Review research Review research School Board approval School Board approval Grants Grants Appeal to community – volunteers, donations (money, time, resources) Appeal to community – volunteers, donations (money, time, resources) Size up your playground – plan Size up your playground – plan Types: Natural, Butterfly Garden, Vegetable Garden, Types: Natural, Butterfly Garden, Vegetable Garden, Contact any others who may be impacted – Hydro, City/Town Contact any others who may be impacted – Hydro, City/Town Maintenance – throughout the year, short holidays, SUMMER!! Maintenance – throughout the year, short holidays, SUMMER!!

Steps To Consider When Developing A Green Space 1. Identify/recognize a sustainability issue or concern 2. Identify and consult with stakeholders affected by the issue 3. Research the positive and negative impacts to the health and well being of: people people the environment the environment the economy the economy 4. Propose creative options to solve the problem, address the issue, or to improve or rectify the identified situation 5. Assess the options as to their positive and negative impacts on the health and well-being of people, the environment, and the economy

Continued… 6. Through a process of consensus, decide upon the best course of action 7. Develop an action plan 8. Implement the action plan 9. Evaluate the action plan 10. Communicate to the stakeholders the results of the actions

Continued… 11. Reassess the issue/situation based on evaluation and feedback from stakeholders stakeholders 12. Education!!!! Of staff – visit other schools in the Division, talk with other teachers, PD Of staff – visit other schools in the Division, talk with other teachers, PD Surveys throughout the year – data collection Surveys throughout the year – data collection 13. How To Use the Space: Start small and with obvious connections – reading, art, science Start small and with obvious connections – reading, art, science Use ESD website (and others) to find correlations Use ESD website (and others) to find correlations Once comfortable, use more often with intent (not just for spring/fall) Once comfortable, use more often with intent (not just for spring/fall) Pair up classes for projects – heterogeneous grades/ homogeneous grades Pair up classes for projects – heterogeneous grades/ homogeneous grades

Grants Evergreen Evergreen Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Projects Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Projects Homes Depothttp:// Homes Depothttp:// World Wildlife Fund (WWF) World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Do Something Do Something TD Friends of the Environment TD Friends of the Environment Tree Canada – Greening Canada’s School Groundshttp:// Tree Canada – Greening Canada’s School Groundshttp:// Government of Manitoba Education for Sustainable Developmenthttp:// Government of Manitoba Education for Sustainable Developmenthttp:// Tree Canada Tree Canada

Resources Bienenstock Bienenstock Eco Kids Eco Kids How to Develop an Outdoor Habitat for Learning - Creating a School Habitat: A Planning Guide for Habitat Enhancement on School Grounds in Texas- Chapter 5 ds/safety/facilities/05_chapter_V.pdf How to Develop an Outdoor Habitat for Learning - Creating a School Habitat: A Planning Guide for Habitat Enhancement on School Grounds in Texas- Chapter 5 ds/safety/facilities/05_chapter_V.pdf ds/safety/facilities/05_chapter_V.pdf ds/safety/facilities/05_chapter_V.pdf This website is a very informative and helpful resource for school ground greening Schools.pdf This website is a very informative and helpful resource for school ground greening Schools.pdf Schools.pdf Schools.pdf

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