1) The Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O) at Sta. Fe National High School proposes establishing a curriculum-based science garden and fishpond to provide hands-on learning experiences for students. 2) The science garden would allow students to learn about biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem, ecological relationships, and how changes affect populations and the ecosystem. 3) Constructed in phases, the science garden would include a rectangular fishpond to support lessons across subjects like biology outside of the classroom. Funding would come from the organization's "Money on Waste" project.

1. Department of Education
Region III
Schools Division of Zambales
STA. FE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Marcelino, Zambales
A PROJECT PROPOSAL
FOR A CURRICULUM-BASED SCIENCE
GARDEN OF STA. FE NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL
S.Y. 2017-2018
Submitted by:
AHSIR C. BALESTEROS
T-3/YES-O Adviser
Republic of the Philippines
RegionIII
Divisionof Zambales
SANGUILLERMONATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SanMarcelino

2. Introduction:
Imagine a science garden that students and facultyshow off with pride, not only because of
itsbeautybut because itenablesawhole new setof learningexperiencesforstudents.We canmake
this vision a reality at STA. FE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL with the initiating effort of its school
organization in science, the Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O).
Our school hasthe potentialtoenhance studentlearningoutside of the classroom asmuchas
it does inside. A curriculum-based science garden with its own fishpond could serve as a living
laboratoryandoutdoorclassroomfor subjectsacrossthe curriculumrightinour ownschool campus.
Sta.Fe National Highschool isattendedbythe studentwithadifferentlevelof environmental
awareness aboutthe interdependenceamongthe componentof the environmentthe livingandnon-
living things.We would like to enrich our studentsin our school by creating a science garden with a
fishpond thatbringsstudents the learningexperiencewith plantsandanimals (Biotic) havingahealthy
relationshipwiththe material inthe environment(Abiotic) ina so-calledhabitat.Inthe process,they
can participate in activities that increase science knowledge, sharpen their experimental skills, spur
curiosityand create awarenessaboutthe environmental conditionof the communityandthe country
as well.
Project Rationale and Objective:
The Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O) is the premier student
organization in the school that concerned for environmental welfare. Just like any other
environmental organizations, we do have the goal to create awareness about the environmental
condition of the country among the Filipino students, establish doable and specific projects for
environmental wellness,and promote environmental advocacies in our schools. And one of these
projectsof the Sta.Fe NationalHighSchoolYouthforEnvironmentOrganization istoput-upafishpond
that aims to provide an opportunity for the student to experience and be able to acquire necessary
skills and knowledge pertaining to specific competencies based on the curriculum guide.
The Curriculum-basedScience GardenFishpondof Sta.Fe NationalHighSchool objectivesare
as follow:
1. (S7LT-IIh-9) differentiate biotic from abiotic components of an ecosystem;
2. (S7LT-IIh-10) describe the different ecological relationships found in an ecosystem;
3. (S7LT-IIi-11) predict the effect of changes in one population on other populations in the
ecosystem; and
4. (S7LT-IIj-12) predict the effect of changes in abiotic factors on the ecosystem.
Educational Benefits of Curriculum-Based Science Garden Fishpond:
There is no implied guidelines or explicit requirement for a school to incorporate a science
garden to science (academic) lessons, and yet, science teachers still make science garden a part of
where andhowtofacilitatealesson. Eventhoughthere are noexactresourcestosupportthe supplies
and preparationof a science garden, science teacherswill come up with othermeansto provide the
necessarymaterialtoputupascience garden.Becausetheyare integratingscience garden-basedinto

3. theirlessonplan, organizingthe classforlessonsoutside,andfindingwaystoconnecttheirstudents’
outdoor learning experience to the curriculum-based science garden.
Science garden is now a necessity in teaching the different discipline of science especially
biology.Science teachersnowrealizedthatthe sciencegardenis suitedtohelpchildrenlearn.It could
provide chances to contextualize a lesson for understanding both simple and complex concepts
throughlocalizationandindigenization. “Itisaplace where studentspractice skillslike measurement,
scientificobservation,informative writing,andpoetry.Of course,theseare skillsthatcanbe taughtin
many ways,but teachersfindthat the school gardenis a particularlyengagingenvironmentfortheir
students. Garden-based learning can bridge academic subjects in a way that not only imparts skills
and contentbut alsohelpsstudentsunderstandwhythese skillsare importantand how theycan be
useful. Further, the edible learning garden allows teachers to “fold in” health and food education
without competing with core academic time. The schoolyard garden is a sensory-rich change in
environment from the classroom, and it is just outside the door”. (By Jane S. Hirschi | May 2015)
Now a science garden can transform the schoolyard into an outdoor learning laboratory,
essentiallyanew“classroom”withendlessopportunitiesforinvestigationandstudy,forrelativelylow
cost whencompared to the costs of constructinga new science lab classroom. A science gardencan
be built and used to meet learning standards. Not just content standards but also performance
standards for teaching and learning instruction that are student-centered involving active
investigations that rely on students’ own environment as a contextualization for learning.
Plan of Action:
Construction: Phase One
Activities Time Frame Person involved Expected Output
Generating fund June to December
2017
YES – O Members Income from
“MONEY ON WASTE”
Project
Site preparation December 2017 YES – O Members Ground clearing and
leveling
Construction January 2018 YES – O Officers and
Parents
Rectangular Fishpond
Installation: Phase Two
Activities Time Frame Person involved Expected Output
Landscaping February-March,
2018
YES-O officers,
Members, and
Parents
Curriculum-based
Science Garden

4. Installing of Fish
(Tilapia)
February 2018 YES-O Adviser Fully Functional
Fishpond
Funding:
The potential source of fundforthisprojectismainlyfrom aportionof the generatedincome
of "MONEY ON WASTE"projectof the organization(YES-O) forSchoolYear2016-2017 and2017-2018.
The estimatedcostof theprojectisaroundPhp3,450.00 for phase one of the project.Andthisamount
isfor the provisionof the necessarymaterialsforthe constructionandlaborcostwhichisstill subject
to some adjustmentbasedon the availabilityof potentialdonorsandlaborvolunteersfrom parents.
Conclusion:
The basic goal of a school garden is the aesthetic value. Bounded withthe varietyof plants
arranged in a beautiful landscape is a typical view as expected. But for a curriculum-based science
garden, it exceeds this expectation for it provides limitless possibilities for both aesthetic and
educational value.
To restate, it transforms a schoolyard into an outdoor learning laboratory, a sensory-rich change in
environment from the classroom that provides chances to contextualize a lesson for understanding
both simple andcomplex concepts throughlocalizationandindigenization,aplace for activitiesthat
increase science knowledge, sharpen their experimental skills, spur curiosity and create awareness
aboutthe environmentalconditionof ourmotherearth.Toconclude,ascience gardenhasalongterm
benefitthatwill transpire through all academicsubjectswhich supportlessonsingeography,writing,
and social studies.
Prepared by:
AHSIR C. BALLESTEROS
Teacher 3/ YES-O Adviser
Approved:
DONABEL N. FERIA
Head Teacher 3/OIC