Learning Landscapes/School Garden

Proposal for the Fairmount Elementary Auction Fundraiser

2010

Landscape Committee Coordinator: Susan Ganter

Engaging Our Students Outside as Well as In

• Enter Fairmount’s playground and feel the magic – Visualize big trees and

whimsical banners– A tranquil place to read and

reflect – Rocks to clamber over– An imaginative outdoor

classroom in our very own school garden with desks painted green, purple and orange.

Providing our children rich learning experiences

• An outdoor curriculum incorporating math, science, history, reading and art

• Hands on experience where children observe first hand how plants grow

Learning Landscapes

• Our mission is to build public places that support the wellness of children - through increased exercise, open space, community gathering places, gardens, and more.

• The learning landscape creates a site for learning and discovery that is fun and ultimately celebrates the cultural and historic character of each distinct neighborhood.

Learning Landscapes Design Elements

• Comprised of grass playing fields• Age-appropriate play equipment• Trees and shade structures • Gateways, artwork and gardens • Traditional play elements and non-traditional

play elements. • Function as local public parks providing much

needed green space and social gathering places while fostering neighborhood pride for local communities.

Examples of Learning Landscapes

Student Generated Art

Outdoor Solar System

Examples of Learning Landscapes

Schoolyard Renovations Can Have a Positive Affect on

Children's Physical Activity.  • Objectives. We examined whether schoolyard improvements led to

increased physical activity levels among both boys and girls and assessed the aspects of schoolyard design that have an impact on physical activity.

• Methods. In a quasi-experimental research design, 6 schools with renovated schoolyards and 3 control schools were divided into activity areas. We calculated measures of children's physical activity by area during school hours as well as after-school hours.

• Results. The volume of schoolyard use was significantly higher at schools with renovated schoolyards than at control schools, and students were significantly more active at these schools. Also, activity levels were significantly higher among both boys and girls in certain schoolyard areas, such as those with soft surfaces.

• Conclusions. Because few public elementary schools in the United States provide daily physical education or its equivalent for all students throughout the school year, noncurriculum approaches to increasing children's physical activity are important. Renovated schoolyards increase the number of children who are physically active, as well as their overall activity levels, and reduce sedentary behaviors. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 15, 2010: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.178939)

Fairmount Learning Landscapes Master Plan

• Develop a comprehensive plan that accounts for any and all present/future needs, and design a schoolyard that accommodates those needs. 

• Phase 1 is the garden/outdoor classroom• Plan to include all ornamental and productive

pieces, as well as recreational structures, drainage plans, etc.  

• Ensures that all efforts compliment one another toward an overall goal. 

Fundraising goal for auction and balance of year

• School garden: Preliminary fundraising estimate of $20K– Includes infrastructure, irrigation, labor and material costs, large scale soil amendment to

improve the soil fertility

– Master Long Range Plan for Learning Landscapes

– Fruit orchard/reading area: $300/tree and $300/bench (Individual auction items to purchase) TBD

Presence at the Auction

• Dioramas of the school garden and reading area will be placed around the room

• Table for tree and bench purchases and individual donations (TBD)

• If you have additional interest and/or questions please contact the Landscape Committee Coordinator – Susan Ganter at Ganters1@gmail.com