Melbourne Australia
Monash City Council
February 2000
Monash
City Council
Learning through life
Integrating environmental projects into a school culture and curriculum is a challenge. Southmoor P.S. has probably been one of the most successful schools I have observed in achieving this goal and highlighting the integral role the environment should play in living and learning.
So what have they achieved?
Flower and vegetable gardens which are a Grade 1/Grade 5 project
The gardens are substantial and
offer children an ongoing and real hands on experience with watching
plants grow, tending them, co-operating with others and learning from others.
The beds have been particularly well designed and are incorporated into
a gardening area with shadehouse and nearby worm farm. The children
who work on these gardens are knowledgeable, confident and certainly
"in charge" of the process. In short this wasn't simply a teachers garden
where the children could watch.
A recycling program which involves paper recycling and organic waste recycling through a worm farm
This is another student directed project that is working particularly well. The integration of the worm farm with the vegatable gardens means that students have a strong sense of value about collecting organic waste and ensuring an excellent product for the gardening group.
Southmoor Primary School students
at SFSF 1998 - 1999 Annual Presentation day (nursing their pet blue
tongue lizard).
The Wetlands Project
Southmoor has a beautiful fullsized wetlands area set between two wings of the school. I found this an outstanding achievement for a number of reasons.
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It was integrated into the schools learning area as distinct from a more distant location. This has made it a centerpiece of the school and has transformed the learning environment in that location.
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It is an integral part of the biology curriculum and again offers "real" rather than virtual experiences.
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The school community constructed it. The digging, watering etc were done in house rather than with a bucket load of cash. To my mind this both demonstrated and helped create a whole school commitment to the wetlands.
Southmoor PS has many other quality intergrated environmental projects. These range from monitoring the length and weight of their pet stumpy tail lizards (a great Maths excercise!) to designing elegant footpaths for their garden.
A number of overall characteristics have evolved from the synergy of these activities.
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This is not a one person project.
The Principal (Maree Kick) and the main project organiser (Joanne Witt) have successfully integrated many staff in the operating of the various projects. This has spread commitment and ownership throughout the school.
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The overall impact of the projects make it clear that this is a school with environmental vision. It is not simply a school beautification project.
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The school is effectively educating the local community. By focusing attention on its environment projects Southmoor challenges view that the environment requires only a token response (after literacy and computers are catered for).
As a result of all of the above the environmental education of children at Southmoor Primary is genuine.
Educational research inevitably finds that the most outstanding educational outcomes for children are achieved when children are involved in real tasks with real outcomes and real responsibilities. This can take many forms- drama, sport, outdoor education, organising a party, writing a book, taking care of a classmate.
At Southmoor P.S. the provision, maintenance and extension of the integrated range of environmental projects tells students the school values the natural environment and sincerely wishes them to understand, appreciate it and care for it.
I think this is one of the best lessons our children can learn.
Joseph Natoli Project
Director
Schools for A Sustainable Future
SFSF
Schools For a Sustainable Future
1 Curdies St.
E. Bentleigh Vic. 3165
Email:
Joe Natoli
Ph: (03) 9579-7224 Fax:
(03) 9579-6153 Mobile: 0411-568-523
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