St. John the Apostle School

To develop an outdoor learning garden and classroom for all of the students (through 8th grade) at St. John the Apostle School. We would like to educate and raise awareness of our natural resources and the impact they have on the environment.
Goals: Our goal is to make learning more meaningful and more enjoyable as children learn an appreciation of the many components of the world in which they live.
Outdoor education goals include:
- using critical thinking skills
- learning through direct experience
- exploring
- decision making
- managing natural resources
- real-life encounters
- using the senses to discover and observe

Through direct experience within natural settings, outdoor Learning Garden allows students to learn about environmental concerns such migration of birds, weather systems, wildlife habitats, watersheds, soil erosion, geological formations, food chains, forestry resources, plants, harvesting crops, and community resources. All subject areas in the present curriculum can be enriched through outdoor learning garden experiences, and more importantly, subject areas become related, integrated, and enhanced. These experiences will help each student better understand and develop a caring attitude about how people affect the natural world.
Specific to the area of PLANTS the objective are;
OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will use the five senses to observe and investigate plants.
2. Students will explain the importance of plants in a natural environment.
3. Students will explain how plants benefit people.
4. Students will research the nutritional value of plants.
5. Students will conduct experiments to determine the effects moisture,
sunlight, air, and soil have on plants.
6. Students will construct a terrarium.
7. Students will observe the structures of roots, stems, flowers, and the growth of seeds and bulbs.
8. Students will identify five domestic and/or wild flowers.