Native Learning Ecosystems - Our Outdoor Classroom

2/1/20082/1/2008The Beginning of The Beginning of Something Big!Something Big!

Native Learning EcosystemNative Learning Ecosystem

Tae is finding the composition in the soil.

There’s William, Iesha and Ashley finding the composition in the soil. We took samples and analyzed for minerals, grain size, texture, and porosity.

Three AD Harris students starting to put the outside classroom together! They are mapping out where a shade arbor will be built.

Davina and Ebony working on mapping out the butterfly garden.

Mr. Mays and Patrick digging holes to find the water line and the electric line.

Watering Watering plants in plants in climatariuclimatariu

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Dominique and Ty watering seedlings in the climatarium.

Weather Readings for Weather Readings for Channel 13Channel 13

Watch for AD Harris on Channel 13 News nightly

Tae and Katie finding out the daily weather. The daily weather data is reported to Channel 13 WMBB, a local news station.

Students in Mrs. Limberg’s Biology class working on the tree limbs for the wooden benches. We had to gather a camphor tree (a non native species) that had been recently cut down. The camphor tree was going to be taken to our county garbage dump, instead we took all the leaves off and made it into two twig benches! What a great use for a non native species!

There’s Katie Langston and Ashley Vernon working on a raised flower bed. We’ve never built a flower board and at first didn’t know how to put a nail into a board, but we were successful. We plan to fill it with herbs to help attract butterflies for our butterfly garden!

Finally! A twig bench!Finally! A twig bench!

Di’arius Yarrell, and Wesley are helping to build the benches

Our Outdoor ClassroomOur Outdoor ClassroomFebruary 8. 2007February 8. 2007

The best part about building an outdoor classroom is not that we’ll have a classroom when we’re finished, but the process. So far, we don’t have much, but Robyn Akers mapped out the butterfly garden, a great first step! We’ve got a long way to go and not a lot of time!

Shoveling and raking for the gardens and our shade arbor we are building.

Walking stones for our butterfly garden. Mason shoveling to get the stones settled so they are sturdy to walk on. Mr. Mays directing on what to do.

First class outside in the Native Learning Ecosytem. Earth Sciencediscussing about earthquakes. While the students worked outside,they were focused and driven, classroom disruptions disappeared and motivationwas high. They appreciated the freedom of an outdoor environment.

Building the arbor, a beautiful entrance into the Native Learning Ecosystem

A Grand EntranceA Grand Entrance(At least in the making)(At least in the making)

How to Build a Shade How to Build a Shade ArborArbor

Step 1: measure out area, dig holes, Double check measurements, pour cement

Step 2: set in place all poles and measuredistances using the Pythagorean Theorem

Don’t forget to call the experts from ACE Hardware

Step 3: Add the sides very carefully, Don’t fall!

Step 4: Nail in the middle supportsStep 5: Spread the shade cloth

Step 6: Secure the shade cloth

Step 7: Add picnic tables, Success!

Planting Day! Planting Day! The big day was finally here. After a trip to Native nurseries in The big day was finally here. After a trip to Native nurseries in

Tallahassee Florida, we planted over four hundred dollars worth of native Tallahassee Florida, we planted over four hundred dollars worth of native plants funded by a grant from Project Learning Tree GreenWorks. It was a plants funded by a grant from Project Learning Tree GreenWorks. It was a

long day but it looks beautiful!long day but it looks beautiful!

Native Learning Ecosystems main focal point is a Native Learning Ecosystems main focal point is a butterfly garden. In the garden we planted scarlet butterfly garden. In the garden we planted scarlet

milkweed, penta, tickseed, and many different milkweed, penta, tickseed, and many different varieties of herbs, all to attract butterflies.varieties of herbs, all to attract butterflies.

March 10, 2008 April 15, 2008

The diverse views of Native Learning Ecosystems

The start of a The start of a vegetable gardenvegetable garden

Rain Barrels are designed to catch rainwater that Rain Barrels are designed to catch rainwater that runs off a roof. By saving it and using it during runs off a roof. By saving it and using it during

times of drought, you save water!times of drought, you save water!

Mrs. Schafer and Mrs. Limberg’s class worked Mrs. Schafer and Mrs. Limberg’s class worked together to make birdfeeders out of peanut butter together to make birdfeeders out of peanut butter

and pinecones! Yum! The birds loved it!and pinecones! Yum! The birds loved it!

Rain Barrel Rain Barrel ConstructionConstruction

Brenda Branch and her third gradestudents from St. Andrews Elementaryvisited AD Harris to build theirown rain barrels, visit the outdoor classroom, and meet high schoolstudents.

Native Learning EcosystemsNative Learning EcosystemsMay 28, 2008May 28, 2008

Was it Worth it?Was it Worth it?Was it worth it?In the spring of 2007 students asked if we could build an outdoor classroom.so we did. The project was studentdriven, student researched, and studentbuilt. Everything we did was tied tothe Sunshine State Standards in Biologyand Earth Science. The results were fantastic. Students that once hated coming to school, looked forward to science class, failing students tookpride in their work and became stellarstudents, and students that never got along formed relationships. Studentslearned how important their environmentat AD Harris is and developed a strong sense of community and pride.Native Learning Ecosystem – a permanentfixture at AD Harris High School.It was worth it.