5/29/2007

Charleston Middle School- Outdoor Classroom

In 2006,Charleston Middle School started an outdoor classroom by a small group of teachers. "This project is well on its way to being a great success for our school and community. The students love it because they get to see nature at work. I love it because I see it in their eyes that they are learning about the outdoors," said Coach Nathan Ross, 5^th grade teacher at Charleston Middle. These teachers took their summer break to get this project started. They cleaned out brush, picked up trash and put together plans for the next school year. The funds for the outdoor classroom came from collecting cans by students, having can tab contest every month, school plays, teachers vs. students basketball games and local donations.

The outdoor classroom has different kinds of trees and plants labeled so the students can see and know what is in their schools backyard. The vocational classes built an outdoor theater, bridge and birdhouses. The bridge is a walkway over the stream that is still under construction. The bird houses are home to many different kinds of birds. "I think the outdoors classroom is so much fun! My favorite thing is the birdhouses because I love to listen to the birds sing," said 4^th grader Kailee Porter.

The outdoor classroom connects the students with the outdoors and provides a new setting and environment for learning. "I like the outdoor classroom because we don't have to sit in the hot classroom all day. We get to go outside and enjoy nature," said Scott Ross, 5^th grade.

For information on how to get an outdoor classroom started at your school, please contact Amanda Mills, Special Projects Executive, MDWFP at 601-432-2005.