Liberty ElementaryCentennial Outdoor Classroom Garden

The Backstory

Liberty Elementary School District

Among oldest in-use school buildings in AZ

Centennial year 2010

7500 sf unused area adjacent to historic school

2007-Patty Messer has the idea for a garden and applies for grants

NJHS-Buy a Brick Program

A CONCEPT EVOLVES:Outdoor Classroom / Sustainable Garden

Refining the idea:Outdoor classroomMultiple grade levelsEngage across curriculumSonoran desert emphasisSustainable by students

The Centennial Outdoor Classroom Garden at Liberty Elementary School

The garden will occupy a 7,500 square foot undeveloped area east of Liberty’s 1910 historic

schoolhouse.

Over 4,500 students from across the District will be able to

participate in an ongoing, interactive learning experience

centered on plants, the environment, and climate

change.

The NeedThe mission of the Liberty Elementary School District is to create a child-centered environment which ensures academic and personal success.

Liberty is a Title One School-”…to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education…”

Need for environmental education-

“No Child Left Inside”--NCLI Congressional Act of 2009

Need to excite/engage future WV leaders

in science, real issues

Water quality

Soil contamination

Conservation of resources

The Site

Student InputFebruary 2009-Landscape Architect Team begins working with the

Gifted and Talented students in Mr. Bryan’s class

Concepts

Discussed:

Brainstorming

Assessing

Conceptualizing

Designing

Critiquing

Prioritizing

Negotiating

Compromise

Teamwork

Final Color Conceptof the

Centennial Outdoor Classroom Garden

Centennial Outdoor Classroom Garden FeaturesEngraved brick pathway

Edible Garden/Lab

Native Plants

Water Feature

Insect/Butterfly Garden

Gathering Area

Greenhouse

Color Garden

Composting

Timeline ContinuedFebruary 2009 –

Apply for the Schoolyard Habitat Foundation Grant

March 2009-Tie Science standards and activities into the Outdoor ClassroomApply for SRP Education GrantTour of other schoolyard gardens Awarded the Schoolyard Habitat Foundation grant

10,000 worth of in-kind product and servicesIrrigation Performance Evaluation conducted

April 2009 – Presentation to Litchfield Park Rotary for funding

May 2009 – Schoolyard Habitat Foundation assesses the siteArticle in the West Valley View

What’s Next? The Future…Phase 1:Spring/Summer 2009

Finalize design of outdoor classroom Irrigation performance evaluation

Phase 2: School Year 2009-2010

Schoolyard Habitat pond construction

Planting

Installation of solar pumps

Installation of engraved brick pathway

Construction of seating areas

Next Steps

Fall 2010-

Ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the garden and the 100th year of the 1910 Building

First science classes held

Contact Bernadette Millsfor more information 623-935-6384