Developing and Integrating a K-6 Resource Guide Containing Environmental Education Curriculum Connections for the Edison Elementary School Outdoor Site

Abstract

The purpose for this project was to increase the amount of time the Edison Elementary School staff members in Appleton, Wisconsin, spent outdoors teaching students. The methodology included four basic components. A pre-survey was given in 1995 to assess current practices. A post survey was scheduled to be given in May 1997, but was first administered in May 2000. The designing and constructing of the gardens to be used as an outdoor classroom was scheduled to be done during the summer of 1996. The component which encompassed the entire project from September 1995 to May 1997, included developing and gathering Environmental Education (EE) activities that specifically matched both our district curriculum and garden site resources. Finally, the staff members were inserviced in 1999 to demonstrate how to best use the newly developed sites as well as the lessons provided. The first step was to survey the staff members' present use of the school grounds in November 1995. Next, a committee was organized to plan and carry out the implementation of the garden site. Activities were collected, disseminated, and piloted by the various grade levels. In January 1998, members of our committee attended a natural landscaping conference in order to get additional ideas and information about our project. Planning continued in September 1998 with the assistance of a local natural landscape architect. In the spring of 1999 the actual gardens were designed and then established in the summer of that same year. Due to the infancy of the gardens, our 1999 fall inservice was held at Riverside Cemetery. Prior to the inservice, the staff was resurveyed due to the time lapse and turn-over of staff members. Each staff member was given a resource packet for our school site and the neighboring sites. Additional activities were provided to the staff throughout the school year. A final survey was given in May 2000 to determine if the staff member's usage had increased. Results from this project were encouraging. When the staff members were resurveyed, 20% more said they had been provided with resources to plan lessons that better utilize the school site. Staff members also indicated a 20% increased awareness of the possibilities available on our school site. Recommendations include continued fostering of staff interest in the project and further development of the outdoor site. Enlisting the principal's support and direct involvement, is also desirable.