Outdoor Classroom

Westwood Elementary School's unique Environmental Classroom was conceived in the minds of its principal, teachers, and students. Earth Day of 1998 marked the beginning, with the simple planting of a few shrubs, and it has now grown and expanded into a world-class outdoor Environmental Classroom.

This classroom has no walls, windows, desks, or bored students. Instead, it overflows with life and learning. It is full of flowers, sunflowers, wheat, vegetables, caterpillars, butterflies, hummingbirds, squirrels, turtles, frogs, tadpoles, fish, worms, and plenty of student enthusiasm.

AREAS OF INTEREST:

Water Garden -- 300 square feet of surface area with 7,000 gallons of water. It has its own waterfall, observation bridge, and bog. There are over 25 varieties of aquatic plants as well as many varieties of fish.
Green House -- a place for students to experiment with plant propagation, pollination, and hydrotopism, to name a few.
Gazebo -- a classroom size gazebo with built-in benches and wooden shaker roof.
Rock Wall -- a limestone wall constructed using rock that had once been part of a century old fence. The raised area it surrounds has many varieties of shrubs, grasses, and ground cover. A bat house is located just over the rock wall area.
Literature Garden -- An area surrounded by shrubs and cottage garden flowers. Benches are available for reading, writing, or just enjoying the area.
Butterfly Garden -- This area has many plants growing to attract caterpillars and butterflies. Students are then able to observe these creatures in their many stages of life.
Raised Bed Garden -- The raised bed garden is filled with different things each season, from vegetables in the spring to wheat in the winter.
Compost Pile -- This was started to help maintain the outdoor classroom by keeping all the leaves, fallen limbs, and grass clippings up. It has also served as the final resting place of dead fish and animals. Students added worms to watch decompostion in action.
Humming Bird Garden -- Plants and flowers are located here to attract hummingbirds.
Briar Patch -- Three varieties of blackberries are planted here.
Wildflower Garden -- This 100 square foot garden provides splashes of color for six months as well as attract a variety af animals and insects.

OUR GOAL: To provide a classroom that increase students interest, achievement, and self-esteem while turning kids onto science.

The center was funded by Goals 2000 Grant, Tennesse Forestry Grant, Wal-Mart Enviromental Grant, and Tennessee Horticulture Grant.

The winner of the Tennessee Conservation Award, Schoolyard Habitat Award, and Certification National Wildlife Federation.


	Outdoor Classroom *Westwood Elementary School* Family Engagement Plan Principal Letter HOME Calendar Achievement School Information Faculty and Staff Outdoor Classroom Links Westwood Elementary School's unique Environmental Classroom was conceived in the minds of its principal, teachers, and students. Earth Day of 1998 marked the beginning, with the simple planting of a few shrubs, and it has now grown and expanded into a world-class outdoor Environmental Classroom. This classroom has no walls, windows, desks, or bored students. Instead, it overflows with life and learning. It is full of flowers, sunflowers, wheat, vegetables, caterpillars, butterflies, hummingbirds, squirrels, turtles, frogs, tadpoles, fish, worms, and plenty of student enthusiasm. AREAS OF INTEREST: Water Garden -- 300 square feet of surface area with 7,000 gallons of water. It has its own waterfall, observation bridge, and bog. There are over 25 varieties of aquatic plants as well as many varieties of fish. Green House -- a place for students to experiment with plant propagation, pollination, and hydrotopism, to name a few. Gazebo -- a classroom size gazebo with built-in benches and wooden shaker roof. Rock Wall -- a limestone wall constructed using rock that had once been part of a century old fence. The raised area it surrounds has many varieties of shrubs, grasses, and ground cover. A bat house is located just over the rock wall area. Literature Garden -- An area surrounded by shrubs and cottage garden flowers. Benches are available for reading, writing, or just enjoying the area. Butterfly Garden -- This area has many plants growing to attract caterpillars and butterflies. Students are then able to observe these creatures in their many stages of life. Raised Bed Garden -- The raised bed garden is filled with different things each season, from vegetables in the spring to wheat in the winter. Compost Pile -- This was started to help maintain the outdoor classroom by keeping all the leaves, fallen limbs, and grass clippings up. It has also served as the final resting place of dead fish and animals. Students added worms to watch decompostion in action. Humming Bird Garden -- Plants and flowers are located here to attract hummingbirds. Briar Patch -- Three varieties of blackberries are planted here. Wildflower Garden -- This 100 square foot garden provides splashes of color for six months as well as attract a variety af animals and insects. OUR GOAL: To provide a classroom that increase students interest, achievement, and self-esteem while turning kids onto science. The center was funded by Goals 2000 Grant, Tennesse Forestry Grant, Wal-Mart Enviromental Grant, and Tennessee Horticulture Grant. The winner of the Tennessee Conservation Award, Schoolyard Habitat Award, and Certification National Wildlife Federation.








National Title One Distinguished School