Creating A Green Creating A Green SpaceSpace

By: Team Eco -By: Team Eco - Trish GoosenTrish Goosen Suzanne SimpsonSuzanne Simpson Diane WiebeDiane Wiebe Larissa PlanteLarissa Plante

IssuesIssues

Teachers are not going out into the school Teachers are not going out into the school yard to teach. yard to teach.

Students do not know how to play unless Students do not know how to play unless there is a man made structure in front of there is a man made structure in front of them.them.

PurposePurpose

To provide the opportunity for students to learn To provide the opportunity for students to learn about sustainability through the creation of an about sustainability through the creation of an outdoor learning environment.outdoor learning environment.

Through this presentation we hope to offer some Through this presentation we hope to offer some suggestions in changing existing school grounds suggestions in changing existing school grounds into inviting green spaces.into inviting green spaces.

Connections to Connections to CurriculumCurriculum

Lots of opportunities to integrate the outdoor gardens/outdoor learning Lots of opportunities to integrate the outdoor gardens/outdoor learning habitats into each subject areas. It`s an opportunity for students to apply the 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 knowledge and skills they have learned in one subject area to the work they are doing with their gardenare doing with their garden

Gather background information to help develop a theme garden, students will Gather background information to help develop a theme garden, students will read reference materials to research information, and then write their plansread reference materials to research information, and then write their plans

In analyzing garden data, students will be applying math skillsIn analyzing garden data, students will be applying math skills

In studying the effects of erosion on soil, there are opportunities to integrate In studying the effects of erosion on soil, there are opportunities to integrate social studies and science social studies and science

Sitting quietly in the garden and drawing the plants or animals that they see Sitting quietly in the garden and drawing the plants or animals that they see them, students will be applying their drawing skills to natural observationsthem, students will be applying their drawing skills to natural observations

Integrating language arts, photography, drawing, history, and science is easyIntegrating language arts, photography, drawing, history, and science is easy

Students can research the history of their local landscape. Students can even Students can research the history of their local landscape. Students can even recreate their surrounding neighbourhood in their gardenrecreate their surrounding neighbourhood in their garden

Connections to Connections to Curriculum ContCurriculum Cont’’dd

Help children learn more about where their food comes Help children learn more about where their food comes from. Students can learn about making better food from. Students can learn about making better food choices for a healthful diet and eating seasonal foods that choices for a healthful diet and eating seasonal foods that are grown locally are grown locally

Learning about where food comes from is a wonderful way Learning about where food comes from is a wonderful way to connect the school garden to geography and historyto connect the school garden to geography and history

Put together a class cookbook of favourite recipes using Put together a class cookbook of favourite recipes using the crops from your class gardenthe crops from your class garden

Science: How insects help pollinate plants in the gardenScience: How insects help pollinate plants in the garden

Students show a more in-depth for all nature’s beautyStudents show a more in-depth for all nature’s beauty

Please see: Please see: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/correlations/charts/index.html

Developing The Developing The Green SpaceGreen Space

Environmental Social Economic•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 compostEngage in trade and barter of goods and services

A Crack In The A Crack In The PavementPavement

http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/schools/videos.sn

ActivityActivity

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

InstructionsInstructions

Each group will be given a map to design an Each group will be given a map to design an outdoor learning environment outdoor learning environment

Each group must adhere to their approved Each group must adhere to their approved budgetbudget

Each group is encouraged to respect the Each group is encouraged to respect the existing features of the school yardexisting features of the school yard

BudgetBudget

Ideas To ConsiderIdeas To Consider

Surprise!Surprise!

The Parent Council is giving you an The Parent Council is giving you an additional…additional…

$5 000$5 000To spend as you see fitTo spend as you see fit

Gallery WalkGallery Walk

Current Current Lockport SchoolLockport School

Mapleton SchoolMapleton School

École BonaventureÉcole Bonaventure

Current ResourcesCurrent Resources

Curriculum development Curriculum development with ESD – suggestions for with ESD – suggestions for how to use the outdoors in how to use the outdoors in various subject areasvarious subject areas

Using existing school yards Using existing school yards as as ‘‘outdoor classroomsoutdoor classrooms’’ – – taking out classes for PE, taking out classes for PE, reading, art, science and reading, art, science and using what currently existsusing what currently exists

Professional Development Professional Development Opportunities – Dept. of Ed Opportunities – Dept. of Ed – Anne MacDiarmid; Online – Anne MacDiarmid; Online community – M.A.P.L.E.community – M.A.P.L.E.

Continued…Continued…

School Divisions using a School Divisions using a common place common place (Divisional e-mail, for (Divisional e-mail, for example) for teachers example) for teachers to find resourcesto find resources

http://www.evergreen.ca

Considerations For Considerations For Developing A Green Developing A Green

SpaceSpace Committee – teachers, EACommittee – teachers, EA’’s, parents, administrations, parents, administration Survey staff, students, community – their Survey staff, students, community – their

needs/ideas/types/what to includeneeds/ideas/types/what to include Review researchReview research School Board approvalSchool Board approval GrantsGrants Appeal to community – volunteers, donations (money, Appeal to community – volunteers, donations (money,

time, resources)time, resources) Size up your playground – planSize up your playground – plan Types: Natural, Butterfly Garden, Vegetable Garden, Types: Natural, Butterfly Garden, Vegetable Garden, Contact any others who may be impacted – Hydro, Contact any others who may be impacted – Hydro,

City/TownCity/Town Maintenance – throughout the year, short holidays, Maintenance – throughout the year, short holidays,

SUMMER!!SUMMER!!

Steps To Consider Steps To Consider When Developing A When Developing A

Green SpaceGreen Space1. Identify/recognize a sustainability issue or concern1. Identify/recognize a sustainability issue or concern

2. Identify and consult with stakeholders affected by the 2. Identify and consult with stakeholders affected by the issueissue

3. Research the positive and negative impacts to the health 3. Research the positive and negative impacts to the health and well being of:and well being of: peoplepeople the environment the environment the economythe economy

4. Propose creative options to solve the problem, address 4. Propose creative options to solve the problem, address the issue, or to improve or rectify the identified situationthe issue, or to improve or rectify the identified situation

5. Assess the options as to their positive and negative 5. Assess the options as to their positive and negative impacts on the health and well-being of people, the impacts on the health and well-being of people, the environment, and the economy environment, and the economy

Continued…Continued…

6. Through a process of consensus, decide upon 6. Through a process of consensus, decide upon the best course of actionthe best course of action

7. Develop an action plan7. Develop an action plan

8. Implement the action plan8. Implement the action plan

9. Evaluate the action plan9. Evaluate the action plan

10. Communicate to the stakeholders the 10. Communicate to the stakeholders the results of the actionsresults of the actions

Continued…Continued…

11. Reassess the issue/situation based on evaluation and feedback 11. Reassess the issue/situation based on evaluation and feedback fromfrom stakeholdersstakeholders

12. Education!!!!12. Education!!!! Of staff – visit other schools in the Division, talk with other Of staff – visit other schools in the Division, talk with other

teachers, PDteachers, PD Surveys throughout the year – data collectionSurveys throughout the year – data collection

13. How To Use the Space:13. How To Use the Space: Start small and with obvious connections – reading, art, Start small and with obvious connections – reading, art,

sciencescience Use ESD website (and others) to find correlationsUse ESD website (and others) to find correlations Once comfortable, use more often with intent (not just for Once comfortable, use more often with intent (not just for

spring/fall)spring/fall) Pair up classes for projects – heterogeneous grades/ Pair up classes for projects – heterogeneous grades/

homogeneous gradeshomogeneous grades

GrantsGrants

EvergreenEvergreenhttp://www.evergreen.ca/en/programs/schools/training-workshops/outdoor-classroom-institute.sn

Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement ProjectsManitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Projectshttp://www.hydro.mb.ca/environment/programs/education_for_sustainable.shtml

Homes DepotHomes Depothttp://www.homedepot.ca/foundation/what-we-do/grant-programs

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)World Wildlife Fund (WWF)http://www.wwf.ca/takeaction/greengrants/

Do Something Do Something http://www.dosomething.org/grants

TD Friends of the Environment TD Friends of the Environment http://www.fef.td.com/funding.jsp

Tree Canada – Greening CanadaTree Canada – Greening Canada’’s School Groundshttp://www.treecanada.ca/site/?s School Groundshttp://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=programs_school&lang=enpage=programs_school&lang=en

Government of Manitoba Education for Sustainable Government of Manitoba Education for Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopmenthttp://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/grant/esd_13.htmlhttp://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/grant/esd_13.html

Tree Canada Tree Canada http://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=programs_school&lang=enhttp://www.treecanada.ca/site/?page=programs_school&lang=en

ResourcesResources

Bienenstock Bienenstock http://www.naturalplaygrounds.ca/http://www.naturalplaygrounds.ca/

Eco Kids Eco Kids http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfmhttp://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm

How to Develop an Outdoor Habitat for Learning - How to Develop an Outdoor Habitat for Learning - Creating a School Habitat: A Planning Guide for Creating a School Habitat: A Planning Guide for Habitat Enhancement on School Grounds in Texas- Habitat Enhancement on School Grounds in Texas- Chapter 5 Chapter 5 http://www.utdanacenter.org/sciencetoolkit/downloahttp://www.utdanacenter.org/sciencetoolkit/downloads/safety/facilities/05_chapter_V.pdfds/safety/facilities/05_chapter_V.pdf

This website is a very informative and helpful This website is a very informative and helpful resource for school ground greening resource for school ground greening http://www.evergreen.ca/docs/res/LG-Guide-http://www.evergreen.ca/docs/res/LG-Guide-For-Schools.pdfFor-Schools.pdf

Bannatyne Playground Bannatyne Playground Construction VideoConstruction Video

http://bannatyne.sjsd.net/playground http://bannatyne.sjsd.net/playground