Education alfresco - Branch Elementary opens outdoor classroom

  • Published
  • By Kate Blais
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Like a self-sufficient farm, there is a place for young gardeners from Branch Elementary School (K-6) to plant vegetables, herbs, flowers, oats and wheat, all the while learning from the fruits of their labor.

Intending to peak the students' interest and provide an environment for hands-on learning, Branch Elementary School has transformed a "large, barren, fenced section" of the schoolyard into an outdoor garden classroom, the "Branch Garden of Learning," educators said.

"In class we talk a lot about plants, growth and animal life, but we couldn't open a zoo," laughed Kevin Cordes, Branch Elementary School principal. "So we decided to install a garden and let the kids get their hands on plants so that they can be part of the process."

Funded by Lockheed Martin as part of the company's "Make a Difference Day" project, volunteers from both Lockheed and the base community spent two days in November installing the garden. Featuring raised garden beds to plant winter and spring vegetables, a small orchard, herb garden and sitting area, the outdoor classroom is designed to provide real-world applications for math, science, language arts and social studies for each grade level.

"Students can apply mathematics to calculate square footage, growth time and heights of plants," said Alexia Svejda, Branch Elementary Parent Teacher Organization president. "Geography and history can also be taught using the 'Old and New World' garden beds. Students can see the differences between vegetables grown in different parts of the world. And in the sitting area, students will have a chance to sit down and either work out a math problem or creatively write," she said.

Each grade is allotted two garden beds for now, but there are plans to expand the outdoor classroom to include more plant life.

"We're also working on future plans for a possible pergola over the sitting area for shade in the summertime," Ms. Svejda said.

As a few classes were unleashed into the new classroom for the first time, students seemed engaged and interested in the outside environment.

"They've been so excited about it," Mr. Cordes said.