Eco Learning Portal

About:  A Green Schoolyard is an exciting hands-on project based program that allows students and teachers to create a green learning space on their campus.  The Green Schoolyard can include items such as a rain barrel system, Monarch Waystation, weather monitoring station, or a vegetable garden.

Download Lesson:  (Download All)

1. How to Create Your Own Green Schoolyard PDF
2. Schoolyard Assessment Tool PDF
3. Create Your Own Coffee Can Composter PDF

Time: Creating a Green Schoolyard project is a multi-year project. It can be as in depth as you and your students want it to be, and can include mini-projects within the overall idea such as rain barrels, compost station, weather monitoring station, pollinator garden, or a campus storm drain marking. The great part about this project is that you and your students decide what you want to on your campus!

Grade Level/Curriculum Requirement:  All grade levels

Objective: 

• Students will use the engineering process to design and build their own river cleaning device
• To make students aware that human activities can impact the health of a watershed system
• To make students understand that non-renewable resources can be managed

Standards Correlation: SOL: K.7, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.4, 3.5, 4.2, 4.8, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, LS.5, LS.6, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, LS.11, BIO.1, BIO.6, BIO.8, ES.8

Essential Standards: Ecosystems; Structures and Functions of Living Organisms

Materials: 

• How to Create Your Own Green Schoolyard PDF
• DRBA Schoolyard Assessment Tool PDF
• Create Your Own Coffee Can Composter PDF

Procedure: To begin creating a Green Schoolyard on your school campus, start by looking over the How to Create a Green Schoolyard PDF. You can then use the DRBA Schoolyard Assessment Tool with your students as a classroom activity to assess what your schoolyard has already and where you want to begin with your Green Schoolyard. This may mean starting the first year with a butterfly garden, vegetable garden, or rain barrel system. If you have questions about the process, you can contact Krista Hodges, Education Manager at khodges@danriver.org. DRBA can assist with the process of creating a Green Schoolyard, but it is important to know that with this project, you must plan to apply for grants and donations, or use school budget.

Helpful Info & Links:
Green Schoolyard Initiative SOL correlation
Environmental Education Impacts Students Future Careers PDF
Weather Station & Storm Drain Marking Video
Green Schoolyard Tour Video