Schoolyard Naturalization Project

Last year our school developed a green team consisting of staff and students. We realized that our school grounds had no benches for students to sit on. No trees or flowers. We really needed to beautify our school grounds. We started recycling in our school and we managed to purchase some flowers that we planted by our main entrance. This year we would like to purchase trees and more greenery and a compost bin for our school to show that we really are a green school. We would appreciate some funding to be able to accomplish this goal.

Update (January 20, 2012)

At Stephenville Elementary School in 2010-2011 our school developed a five year plan for schoolyard naturalization. Over the past two years we have partnered with Newfoundland Power, the Town of Stephenville, and Abbott and Haliburton.

It is our hope that our schoolyard will be a designated area that will include gardens, habitat areas, renewable energy demonstrations, compost bins, bird feeders and so on. The outdoor classroom will provide an opportunity to use experiential teaching methodologies. In addition to accommodating children’s different learning styles, learning by doing has been shown to often result in greater retention rates among students.

In the outdoor classroom students learn from interacting with primary source materials rather than through the osmosis of words and images generated by texts and other media. This is first hand learning. This past year we used the $750.00 grant from Imagineaction to purchase bricks and flowers for our flower garden for our school yard. The whole school took part in our green day and we carried out a number of activities on this day to naturalize our schoolyard.

Update (November 7, 2012)

Two years ago we started our Schoolyard Naturalization project. Last year we were able to build an outdoor classroom with the help of funds we received from the Imagineaction Project. Students and teachers are now using this classroom to cover outcomes in Science and other subject areas. The whole school community was very proud to see this in their schoolyard when this project was completed. Thanks so much.

Update (November 7, 2012)

Two years ago we started our Schoolyard Naturalization project. Last year we were able to build an outdoor classroom with the help of funds we received from the Imagineaction Project. Students and teachers are now using this classroom to cover outcomes in Science and other subject areas. The whole school community was very proud to see this in their schoolyard when this project was completed. Thanks so much.