Vision

Ashton Meadows Elementary School in Markham – our focus was on expanding our outdoor classroom by installing bird feeders to attract native bird species and planting perennial flowers that attract pollinators such as butterflies. We are encouraging more staff and students to go for community walks and do more activities outdoors in nature.

Action

Our process began with the students asking questions and conducting research. Some of the intermediate students brainstormed a list of questions related to types of perennial, native flowers that are best to plant at a school, native birds in our area, types of bird feeders and bird seed that best attracts these species, and how to plant flowers. Then they conducted extensive research to answer their questions in order to plan our approach for expanding the outdoor classroom. The students decided to put flower boxes in the front of the school, not only to beautify the school, but also to attract pollinators, specifically butterflies, to the school. They also decided to hang the bird feeders on the trees around the school grounds so that the rest of the school can observe, ask questions and learn more about the native bird species in our area.

One student volunteered to build flower boxes for the flowers, so the students helped to line the flower boxes, ensure proper drainage, add the soil, and plant the flowers. Other students filled the bird feeders and hung them in the most appropriate locations in order to attract the most native birds, and to allow the school population to enjoy viewing them. In small groups, the students documented their process with videos and photos, and are creating a promotional video with a call to action related to encouraging other schools to attract pollinators, or to encourage other students to create their own pollinator garden.

Reflection & Celebration

Overall, this was a fantastic project that allowed students to apply their learning in a variety of ways. For example, the students applied math skills by calculating the surface area of the flower boxes to line them with plastic before adding the soil and seeds. They also needed to calculate how many bags of soil was required to fill each flower box. Through this experience, staff also got the opportunity to learn more about student interests outside of school. For example, one student volunteered to build the flower boxes with his father and another student was able to share his extensive knowledge about bird feeders and types of seeds. Thank you to the Learning for a Sustainable Future Organization for allowing us to provide this experience for our students!