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Assess the school yard
- 1. All School Sites Have Nature Plants At A School Site Animals At A School Site Welcome to Trees Indiana’s training site! Course: How To Assess a Study Site As an outdoor educator, you will be required to use the skills you acquire in this training each time you meet with a new client who intends to use the school or worksite as a place for outdoor nature study. This course will provide Trees Indiana Educators with the skills needed to identify the key components needed for a school site study and to assess if these components are present at a school or work site. Click a topic on the left side bar to begin.
- 2. These are all locations which have been used by Trees Indiana as nature study sites. Sometimes there are beautiful woodland areas to use. Sometimes there are just long stretches of black pavement. Whatever the situation, Trees Indiana can show educators that outdoor study is possible.
- 3. This school had a little garden area with seven trees in it. This is an urban site and these seven trees were pretty much the only trees on the school grounds. Only two of the seven trees were deciduous, the rest were coniferous. This little crab apple tree proved to be a ‘hotbed’ for student study, as the crop of crab apples drew birds to the branches all winter long. The decaying fruit on the ground attracted insects. An abandoned birds’ nest was in the branches. Ants were crawling up the trunk. Lichen lived on the bark. So many things to study from just one little tree!
- 4. What is the turf situation at the site? •Is there turf? •How much? •Is the location accessible? (Make sure that it will be available to you at the time you plan to use it. Recess time is not compatible with study time). •Is the grassy area prone to flooding? Does that affect your work? •Will your study plot be mowed? Will that interfere with your work? •Is there shade? Will you utilize the shade? Sometimes a shady, grassy area is a great place to utilize as a check-in point before or after a lesson.
- 5. This school site was difficult because, like many school sites, most of the outdoor space was devoted to the playground. Every inch of available outdoor space was covered in asphalt or gravel, save for 5 trees that grew in odd spots tucked along the edges of the property. We studied every inch of those 5 trees! We found birds’ nests, lichen, seeds, leaves, sap, insects, flowers, buds and squirrels. After a wind storm, we collected branches and twigs and got to see things that were happening in the tree-top branches. To complicate things, halfway through our study, renovations began and a giant fence was erected that completely cut the students off from the trees. That is how we ended up collecting fallen branches and twigs that blew over the fence…we were desperate for something to study!
- 6. This single pine tree provided lots of opportunity for learning. The sap, bird’s nest and pinecones changed throughout the year and covered topics like plant growth, life cycles and animal habitats.
- 7. Look in the tucked away corners. Walls of buildings often have interesting things on or in them. The undersides of leaves can sometimes hold surprises.
- 8. Not much greenery or wildlife at the site? Import some! Next are some simple ways to add wildlife to the space with minimal effort.
- 9. Add A Fallen Log Get a piece of firewood or a fallen log and place it at the site. Select a spot in which it won’t be disturbed (hint: work with the custodial staff on this). In a couple of weeks you should have some natives visiting the log. (Look under it). In a pinch, you can also use a stone, paver or anything that is flat on the bottom and has contact with the soil. Bonus points if you place it within view from your classroom window! Add A Water Feature or Bird Feeder The footprint of a bird bath allows it to be used in small spaces and keeping it clean and filled will attract birds. Another way to attract nature is to create ‘puddlers’ for butterflies. http://birdsandbloomsblog.com /2011/04/14/butterflypuddling spot/ Also, a bird feeder is always a hit!
- 10. Recap of Site Overview •Every site has potential for a nature study and it is your job to bring it alive for the educator. •Trees and grass are your friends. If the site contains these two elements, you will have plenty of things to study. •Look in the nooks and crannies, such as the sides of buildings or the undersides of leaves. •If there isn’t much nature to study, import a rotting log, water feature or bird feeder.
- 11. CHALLENG E Find the 5 locations in this photo that could be potential nature learning opportunities. Click any where on the photo that looks like a learning opportunity to you. When you hit a correct location, a text box will pop-up with details about what could be studied at each spot.
- 12. Look for bird nests in the tree top.
- 13. Study the tree’s bark. Look for animals crawling on it or signs of animal’s presence. Study the texture of the bark and any sap that is oozing.
- 14. Study the soil and turf. Look for plants and animals.
- 15. Look to see what is on the brick wall. Insects? Lichen? Moss? Spiderwebs?
- 16. Lift up these rocks to see what is under them.
- 17. Plants At A School Site Even urban environments contain nature. Sometimes you just have to look a little harder to find it. Click the leaf icon to continue.
- 18. This is by far the most common plant you will see at a site…and that is great! Here is why: •Grass grows quickly, which makes it great for observing changes over time and measuring. •Lots of other creatures like to live in, on and under the turf!
- 19. There are lots of creatures that live in, on or under the turf. Get down on the ground to see what you can find. Check several locations and imagine where you would place groups of students. You may want to bring along magnifying lenses for the children to get in some great investigating!
- 20. Trees will be another common plant found at a study site. Most schools and buildings have at least one tree. Find the tree(s) and identify the species. Be sure to include a visit to one or more trees during each visit.
- 21. There can be a lot going on in a tree. Ideas for topics to investigate: •Study how plants grow: collect seeds, leaves, measure height, width of trunk, etc. •Study what grows near the tree or under the tree. •Study what grows on the tree’s: bark, branches, leaves, base. The bark of this shagbark hickory is host to a wide array of interesting creatures. Study squirrel dreys in the winter when the summer homes are easy to find. Leaves can be identified, collected, pressed, leaf rubbed, categorized and compared. Children always find bird nests fascinating, even long after they have been vacated. The twine, rope and string we found comprising this nest lead to some great discussions!
- 22. This site was covered in English ivy. It is not native to the area, but it was used as a study plant due to its prevelance at the site and the chance to talk about planting native species. Choose plants that the students will see constantly.
- 23. Highlight The Trees If there are trees at the study site, be sure to include them in your instruction. Trees are not only the largest plants on the property, they are also filled with other living things that rely on them for food or shelter. From the soil and roots under the tree to the tip-top branches, trees provide a plethora of study opportunities!
- 24. This mullein plant was selected because it is something children like to feel and its giant yellow flower spike is eye-catching. Choose plants to which you think children will be attracted.
- 25. Allow time for the unusual. This tree fell over between the winter and spring visit. It wasn’t in our original tour, but it was such an unusual occurrence that we took a detour and had a look at it. It was interesting to see how some of the same animals that utilized the upright trees around it made use of this tree even though it was toppled.
- 26. Here are some tips on how to select which plants to observe. Sometimes a site will have so many plants, it is hard to know which ones to select as subjects of study.
- 27. How to narrow it down to just a few plants: Let’s face it, you will have between 20-40 minutes outside with the students and teacher and you simply won’t have time to study every plant you see. Here are the suggestions for winnowing the plants: Choose 4 or 5 trees to visit. These are your anchor stops. If you have time and it correlates with your lesson, select some of the most prevalent other types of plant species that are along your 4-5 tree route. Try to include one or two unusual plants.
- 28. Don’t forget the fungus! Even though it isn’t in the plant kingdom, when assessing a site, it is lumped in with the plants. Fungus is abundant in most places (or can be imported, as discussed in a later segment ). It is great for learning about decomposition, asexual reproduction and spores. While mushrooms, toadstools and shelf fungus are the easiest to see, don’t forget rusts, smuts and molds!
- 29. Recap of Plants To Highlight •Choose the most common plants at the site. •Talk about native species whenever possible. •Be sure to include trees in your instruction. •Select a few plants that are unique or to which children will be drawn. •Don’t forget the fungus!
- 30. CHALLENGE Find 5 plants in this photo that could be potential plants to study. Click any where on the photo that looks like a place for a plant study to occur. When you hit a correct location, a text box will pop-up with details about what could be studied at each spot. (There are more than five, but find at least 5).
- 31. This is a unique tree. It is a weeping, non- native cultivar that is home to many birds.
- 32. This pine tree is a great study plant. •Many birds visit it. •It is coniferous. •It grows visible candles and cones over the course of a school year. •It has a constant supply of interesting leaf litter under it.
- 34. Look under the stones, pavers and wood to find fungus.
- 36. Animals At A Study Site You may not have a zoo, but there are definitely creatures at every site.
- 37. There are lots of creatures that live in, on or under the turf. Get down on the ground to see what you can find. Check several locations and imagine where you would place groups of students. You may want to bring along magnifying lenses for the children to get in some great investigating!
- 38. Study the trees at your site. This is Trees Indiana’s Nature Explore Classroom. It is nearly a monoculture of shagbark hickory. You would think that wouldn’t provide much diversity among the animal types, but we have found everything from tree frogs to raccoons in these trees. Even if there is just one tree on the property, study it closely. More than one animal is using it.
- 39. With a class full of children, it is sometimes difficult to see actual animals. The answer is to look for Animal Signs.
- 40. Look for these: Scat Things that are eaten Tracks
- 41. And also animal homes Animal homes are everywhere! I once found a spiderweb in the corner of a completely empty classroom. Kids get almost as excited about an animal home as they do the animal itself. Look for tracks, scat and food nearby.
- 42. Recap of Animals at the Site •Look in the grass for animals •Look in the trees for animals •If you don’t see any actual animals, look for -Scat -Food -Tracks -Homes
- 43. CHALLENGE Find 5 things related to animals in this photo that could be potential areas of study. Click any where on the photo that looks like a place you might find an animal or animal activity. When you hit a correct location, a text box will pop-up with details about what could be studied at each spot.
- 44. This would be a great place to look for a bird nest.
- 45. This tangled thicket would make a great hiding spot. Look for animal tracks nearby.
- 46. There are probably tracks or scat running along these borders.
- 47. Looks like something has been digging under the fence.
- 48. So many animals would find these fallen apples irresistible. The fact is, we saw hundreds of wasps on them in the fall. All winter long little rabbit tracks and bird tracks surrounded this area.
- 49. Thank you for completing the “Assessing the Study Site” course for educators at Trees Indiana.