Creating Outdoor Classrooms : Schoolyard Habitats and Gardens for the Southwest

by Johnson, Lauri Macmillan; Duffek, Kim (CON); Richards, James

• ISBN13: 9780292717466
• ISBN10: 0292717466
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-15
• Publisher: Univ of Texas Pr

Summary

Schoolyards have come a long way from the barren playgrounds that many people remember. Today's school campuses often feature gardens in which students can learn about native plants and wildlife, grow vegetables and fruit, explore cultural traditions, practice reading and math skills, and use their imaginations to create fun play spaces. And for a growing number of urban students, these schoolyard gardens offer the best, if not the only, opportunity to experience the natural world firsthand and enjoy its many benefits. This book is a practical, hands-on guide for creating a variety of learning environments in the arid Southwest. Filled with clear, easy-to-use information and illustrated with photographs, drawings, and plans, the book covers everything necessary to create schoolyard gardens:bull; An introduction to schoolyards as outdoor classrooms and several types of habitats, including art gardens, cultural history gardens, ecological gardens, literacy gardens, and vegetable gardensbull; Design theory, including a history of garden styles, and design principles and design elementsbull; Beginning the design process, including identifying participants and writing a design program that sets out goals and requirementsbull; Conducting site research and synthesizing design elements to arrive at a final designbull; Design essentials, including project funding and design features, maintenance, accessibility, safety, and project evaluation and revisionbull; Wildlife ecology, including elements needed for survival such as food and shelterbull; Creating gardens for pollinators and other wildlife, including hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, moths, bats, and flies, as well as pest controlbull; Lists of native plants for various kinds of habitats and nurseries that sell native plants, as well as books, web sites, and other resources for learning more about native plants and wildlifeThis guide will be essential for landscape architects, school personnel, parents, and students. Indeed, its principles can be used in designing schoolyard habitats across the country, while its information on gardening with native plants and wildlife will be useful to homeowners across the Southwest.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

About This Book

Making Outdoor Classrooms a Reality

The Need for Wildlife Habitat and Native Gardens

Bioregions of the Arid Southwest

Schoolyards

The Schoolyard as an Outdoor Classroom

Overview of Schoolyard Environments Introduction History of Playground Design with Applications for Contemporary Playground Design Nature and Play Adult Memories of Valued Play Places Implications for Design

Learning and the Natural Outdoor Classroom

Schoolyard Garden Types Art Gardens Cultural History Gardens Ecological Gardens Literacy Gardens Vegetable Gardens

Design Theory

Introduction

History of Garden Styles Prehistoric "Gardens" (20,000-3300 BC)

Ancient Egyptian Gardens (3300-500 BC)

Ancient Mesopotamian (3500-538 BC)

Sumerian (3500-900 BC)

Assyrian (900-625 BC), and Neo-Babylonian (611-538 BC)

Gardens Ancient Persian Gardens (539-331 BC)

Ancient Greek Gardens (700-136 BC)

Ancient Roman Gardens (510 BC- AD 476)

Ancient Chinese Gardens (1600 BC- AD 1279)

Japanese Gardens (AD 575-1600)

Medieval European Gardens (AD 476-1350)

Islamic (Moorish) Gardens, Spain (AD 700s-1400s)

Italian Renaissance Gardens (AD 1350-1765)

French Grand-Style Gardens (AD 1495-1750

English Romantic Gardens (AD 1715-1840)

Spanish Colonial Gardens (AD 1492-mid-1700s)

Colonial and Early American Gardens (AD 1630-1840)

American Romantic Gardens (AD 1830-1930)

Victorian Gardens (AD 1820-1900)

Classical Beaux-Arts Gardens (AD 1893-1930)

Modern Gardens (AD 1930-late 1970s)

Postmodern and Contemporary Gardens (AD mid-1970s-present)

Design Fundamentals Design Principles Design Elements

Beginning the Design Process

Introduction

A Design Process for Planning Outdoor Classrooms, Wildlife Habitats, and Gardens Identify Participants Write a Design Program

Conclusion

Site Research and Design Synthesis

Review and Evaluate Previous StepsSite Research Site Selection Site Inventory Site AnalysisDesign Synthesis

conceptual Design Zones, Spaces, Design Features, and Spatial Sequencing Circulation Patterns Testing Design Concepts

Preliminary Design

Final Design

Design Essentials

Introduction

Project Funding Grants and Cash Donations In-kind Donations Organization of the Fund-raising Process

Design Features Earthworks Ponds Plants Shade Structures Storage Areas Pathways Seating Walls Signs

Maintenance Weeding Fertilization Pruning Bird Feeders and Bird Baths

Accessibility Requirements

Safety

Project Evaluation and Revision

Outdoor Classroom and Schoolyard Habitat Assessment Criteria

Ecological Principles and Wildlife

Introduction to Wildlife Ecology

Elements for Survival Food Resources Water Availability Providing Shelter Space to Survive

Pollinator Gardens and Wild Visitors Introduction Hummingbird Gardens Butterfly Gardens Bee Gardens Moth Gardens Bat Gardens Fly Gardens Wildlife Gardens

Completing the Web Pest Control Decomposition Unwanted VisitorsSeeds for Thought

Words of Inspiration

Appendix: Regional Plant Tables

References and Additional Reading

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.