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Our
Outdoor Classroom Learning isn’t limited to within walls, and children learn in a variety of ways. At Rockwood we strive to provide experiences that awaken all our senses and connect us with our environment. In the fall of 2005 we completed the first phase of an ongoing greening project, initiated and run through Parent Council. Our students can now make curriculum connections in the living world. Rockwood is fortunate to have a large amount of land. We share our field with Crescentwood Community Centre for mini soccer, and the Winnipeg Ultimate League throughout the summer. However, there has been very little shade, seating, or shelter from the winds, and there is nothing connecting us to Manitoba’s native landscape. Here’s what the space behind the school looked like “Before”:
With the guidance of the innovative Evergreen program, the Greenspace Committee canvassed the school and neighbourhood to discover our priorities. We then enlisted the services of two talented graduate students from the University of Manitoba’s Landscape Architecture program. We are grateful to Shauna Trudeau and Kath Glendinning for helping us bring together our community’s needs and desires. The resulting concept is a walk through Manitoba’s ecosystems. Beginning with “farmland” (garden boxes planted and tended by students) we progress through prairie, riverbottom forest and boreal forest. We are very proud of, and excited about this project. Here is the entire plan, to be completed in phases: Through the efforts of Shelmerdine Nurseries and families from the school, berms were shaped, trees were planted, a path was laid and garden boxes for each classroom were built and installed. Teachers planned and planted with their students, and in the spring of 2006, Painted Lady butterflies were grown in classrooms and then released amidst the greenery of this new gathering space. Many
thanks go to our funders: ·
Manitoba
Culture, Heritage and Tourism’s Community
Places Program, ·
the City
of Winnipeg’s Community
Incentive Grant Program, ·
Rockwood
Parent Council, and ·
the
families of our school. Thanks
also to Roberta Hechter, greenspace supporter and Rockwood principal during this
first phase. Here is the work in progress, September 2005:
And here is what our gathering space looked like “After”, in August 2006:
The Greenspace Committee continues toward its goal of naturalizing the school ground. If you are interested in participating, in any way, please leave a message in the school office. Links: Educational Resources: Green Teacher: Education for Mother Earth Monarch Teacher Network Canada Books: Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities, by David Sobel Greening School Grounds: Creating Habitats for Learning, by Tim Grant and Gail Littlejohn Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, by David Sobel Naturalize your own piece of the world: Books: Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots : Activities To Do in the Garden, by Sharon Lovejoy Native plants: Gardening with Native Manitoba Plants
Click on these thumbnails for a close up view.
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