Schools Awarded Grants for Outdoor Classrooms
NASHVILLE – Tennessee has awarded grants to four schools to create or maintain outdoor learning areas through Project CENTS, a partnership between the department of education and the department of environment and conservation.
These schools were selected based on plans to integrate the outdoors into the study of all academic subjects. Through these projects, students will be involved in the creation and/or care of butterfly gardens, edible gardens, a greenhouse, a pond, and an organic vegetable garden.
“It’s important for students to know how the learning that takes place within school walls relates to the world outside,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “These projects bring learning to life, allowing students to practice important skills while gaining respect for the environment.”
All Tennessee schools were eligible to apply for up to $3,000. The following schools were selected for grants:
School, School System | Grant Amount | Project Description |
Forrest School, | $3,000 | The plan includes a space for classes to gather, edible gardens, and gardens to attract birds and butterflies. Teachers of science, agriculture, mathematics, language arts, social studies, wellness, health, drama, foreign language, art, music and special education all have plans to use this outdoor space to help students understand state curriculum standards. |
Greenville Middle, | $1,500 | Greeneville Middle will use an organic vegetable garden to introduce students and the community to safe, homegrown produce. Students will gain hands-on learning experience in science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, art, foreign languages, wellness, Title One, Applied Skills, and Read 180 while learning the valuable skill of producing food. |
Pleasant View School, Private-Memphis | $3,000 | Pleasant View will create a butterfly garden based on Feng Shui design that will be used to study life science, scientific inquiry, mathematics, creative writing, and Chinese art and culture. Students will be involved in the design and implementation of the garden. |
Wallace A. Smith Elementary School, | $3,000 | Wallace A. Smith Elementary School will expand their large multi-purpose garden to include a small greenhouse and garden pond. Students will explore science standards related to plant and animal life, and weather. Third and fourth graders will be able to extend the experience gained in the Smart TN Financial Fitness for Life Program by propagating plants in the greenhouse and selling them. Art and language arts classes will use the area as a quiet place to be creative. |
“New research continues to support using the school and community environment as a framework on which to build the academic and social skills so vital to all students,”
said Tami Coleman, Project CENTS Coordinator. “Outdoor classrooms assist educators in connecting state curriculum standards to the natural world without need of a bus or a field trip permission slip.”
Outdoor classrooms may be wetlands, animal sanctuaries, recycling areas, weather stations, nature trails, outdoor math labs, or as simple as a picnic table in the shade. For additional information about the Outdoor Classroom Grants, the 2009 Outdoor Classroom Symposium, or other opportunities in environmental education, visit www.eeintennessee.org.
For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.
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