The goal of this project was to connect more students, families, and
teachers to the Shawmut Hills schoolyard through meaningful
place-based experiences. Implementation of wagons, observations kits,
outdoor seating and wildlife guides have supported outdoor phenology
journal observations, along with lessons in the edible garden.
Students and teachers have significantly increased their use of the
schoolyard space. Currently, students and staff are collaborating to
plant 4 pocket pollinator gardens. Teachers will study literature to
expand their own knowledge of place-based learning to guide their
planning and instruction with a summer book club.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Through phenology studies and actively participating in the
improvement of the schoolyard we expect students to develop a stronger
connection to it. We expect students to be empowered to take care of
the schoolyard and to seek even more opportunities for improvements.
Stephanie Nielsen, Kindergarten all subjects; Stacy VanderMolen, 1st
Grade all subjects; Lindsay Storey, 2nd Grade all subjects; Jodi
Witczak, PreK all subjects
This year, Shawmut Hills K-8 saw two projects collaborate on campus.
Storey's class created an outdoor birding area for students to
observe, support the population of native birds in the school yard,
educate and learn about the native birds in the schoolyard and
community. Throughout the year students read, wrote, graphed,
listened, and discussed the native birds as well as learned how to be
great stewards in the school yard.
Nielsen's students at Shawmut Hills [explored] their schoolyard
through place-based activities like gardening, clean up events,
outdoor journaling, and outdoor learning times. The goal of this
project was to continue to involve the scholars, families, and
community of Shawmut Hills in their schoolyard through place-based
experiences. This work was originally driven by teacher interest in
increasing outdoor learning time and the school garden, and in
2020-2021 was enhanced by the GREEN webinars organized by Groundswell
and GRPS. The Schoolyard Inventory provided by the GREEN grant
encouraged teachers to reflect on underutilized spaces. Furthermore,
through these place-based opportunities the scholars [noticed]
underutilized space as well. The “Sycamore Circle'' project began in
the Fall of 2021 when Kindergarten and 8th grade students collaborated
to transform an overgrown concrete circle that had large sycamore
trees in it, into a learning and journaling space. To recognize the
value of this new space and to celebrate the learning that will and
has already happened there, the scholars [began] to mural the concrete
circle that defines the “Sycamore Circle”. The art teacher is also
passionate about designing a peace pole with scholars to add to this
space. Slides of the project thus far can be viewed here: Sycamore
Circle .
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Storey's class exhibit life-long stewardship through knowledge of the
native birds, native plants, and appreciating the wonders around
them. Appreciating their space and noticing so much more and caring
for their space in such a pure and true love of what is around them.
Nielsen's class noted life-long stewardship with a revitalization of
the Sycamore Circle, scholars and community members will use this
space more for nature observation opportunities. As they get to know
their “space” more and pay attention to the native animals, insects,
plants and habitats, they will take more ownership in caring for their space.
Partners:
Ottawa County Parks, GrowWise Learning, Holland Outdoor Discovery
Center, Kendall Art Institute, Local Muralist Brittney Grant
The goal of this project is to immerse young, preschool and
kindergarten, learners in their natural environment through weather
related activities. The scholars will explore what weather is, how
weather is measured, and different ways to observe weather. The
scholars will make connections to literacy through literature,
expository text, and phenology journals. Scholars will make
connections to math and science by graphing types of weather. Funds
that support this project will provide each of the 3 classroom’s with
their own weather station, books and potential meteorologist guest
speaker and/or field trip. Our young scholars will also make
connections to how weather affects the everyday lives of humans,
animals, plants, and habitats. Our hope is that these observations
will connect scholars to their outdoor environment and in doing so
instill a love, appreciation, and advocacy of their space.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Our young scholars will also make connections to how weather affects
the everyday lives of humans, animals, plants, and habitats. Our hope
is that these observations will connect scholars to their outdoor
environment and in doing so instill a love, appreciation, and advocacy
of their space. Our scholars will develop the skill of paying close
attention to the changing weather conditions and seasons, which is
necessary for later stewardship and advocacy.
Partners:
Grow Wise Learning LLC
Teachers:
Stephanie Nielsen, Kindergarten, All Subjects; Emma Resendiz,
Kindergarten, All Subjects; Dana Lozon, PreK, All Subjects
Our kindergarten scholars explored their schoolyard through phenology
journaling, weather observations, and “nature collections”. Scholars
engaged in cross-curricular activities. They engaged with community
partners, like Ellen Bacca and Bob at the Outdoor Discovery Center, to
further their perspectives and ideas around weather and phenology. The
kindergartners also collaborated with their cross grade level peers in
4th and 5th grade to make observations. These experiences led to
larger projects like creating the “Shawmut Hills Clean Up Crew”, where
scholars came together once a week to clean up the trash on the
playground. They measured it, made “no littering” signs, and even
created a presentation for the principal requesting support for their
schoolyard trash solution ideas. This project was successful in
connecting our scholars to literacy and cross-curricular place-based
experiences in our schoolyard at Shawmut Hills.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
I believe our scholars have created memories in their schoolyard that
will lead to a life-long appreciation and desire to care for their
community. Journaling involved observing, and those observations led
to trash clean up, which led to a presentation to the principal about
how we need support keeping our schoolyard clean. I expect new trash
bins and a plan for outdoor trash to be a result of their advocacy!
Partners:
Grow Wise Learning LLC, Outdoor Discovery Center
Teachers:
Stephanie Nielsen, Kindergarten, All Subjects; Emma Resendiz,
Kindergarten, All Subjects
