Elementary Students Participate in Green Schoolyard Project

July 1, 2019

In partnership with Albert Harris Elementary, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) developed the first Green Schoolyard in the Dan River basin.  Second grade students at Albert Harris are primarily involved with the project since they had already started a butterfly garden in the courtyard.  DRBA staff worked with Albert Harris Elementary teachers and students to enhance the existing butterfly garden and create a certified "Monarch Waystation" along with adding a rain barrel system and a composting program utilizing cafeteria scraps. 

Students planted pollinator plants at the end of the 2018-19 school year, before summer break, and watered them in to help get them established.  The goal of the project is to have the students primarily involved with taking care of the garden using harvested rain water and natural, rich fertilizer - ultimately being stewards of their schoolyard. 

DRBA's Green Schoolyard project is a pilot project that can easily be launched at other schools with appropriate funding.  DRBA's Education Manager, Krista Hodges, has worked with Ms. Laurie Witt, Albert Harris Elementary STEM Teacher, for over a year now on the project.  Ms. Witt utilizes the project in her STEM teaching with the students as a PBL or Project Based Learning.  "Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge," says Ms. Witt. 

The students study the butterfly life cycle during the school year which is required by state standard guidelines.  The second grade teacher and students will be able to study the Monarch Waystation by observing the Monarch life cycle, and potentially recording and reporting Monarch migration.

"We hope to expand the project this coming school year with additional funding by adding a weather station, outdoor whiteboard, and storm drain marking," said Krista Hodges.  "The project has potential to be a multi-year project and include other grade levels which means the whole school could eventually be involved and impact hundreds of students for years to come."

The Dan River Basin Association and Albert Harris Elementary will hold an official ribbon cutting for the project this fall.  An interpretive sign will also be installed at the beginning of the school year about the Monarch life cycle.

The Green Schoolyard project is funded by the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia in Martinsville.  Additionally, donations and volunteer time have been given to help support the program.  Organizations such as the Master Gardeners, Gateway Streetscapes, Raywood Landscape, and Koger Air Corporation have generously donated to the project.

To learn more about DRBA's environmental education programs, visit https://www.danriver.org/programs/environmental-education/for-educators or contact Krista Hodges at khodges@danriver.org.