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The 5th grade class at Petersburg Elementary
School designed and installed a 300 square foot rain garden
on the school grounds. Lead Teacher, Julie Colaw, had the
idea to convert a not highly used outdoor corridor into an
outdoor classroom to be used by the entire school. The
outdoor space was created when an addition to the school was
added. |
The corridor is a grassy space next to the gym and
playground. A plan was drawn up and approved by the school
board. |
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CI’s Outreach Coordinator, Molly Barkman, visited the school
to provide educational lessons to the 5th grade.
Students learned about non-point source pollution-
sedimentation and nutrients- and the effects they have on a
streams ecosystem.
Students learned that best management practices, such as the
rain garden installed at their school, will help water
infiltrate into the ground recharging the ground water
system. This will allow the wells at their house to continue
providing water for their families. The rain garden will
also help to decrease stormwater runoff pollution that
transports sediments and nutrients into the stream.
Students worked to increase their math skills by creating a
scale drawling of the courtyard area. They were given the
freedom to use their imagination in creating an outdoor
learning space. Many students wanted to grow vegetables and
fruits.
Students used the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Native
Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping:
Chesapeake Bay Watershed to make plant selections based
on the available, sunlight, and blooming period of the
plants. |
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Excavation took place on April 1st. |
A backhoe was used to create a 2 foot trench where a
perforated pipe was laid with gravel and protective mesh to
keep soil out of the pipe. This pipe will help to transport
water throughout the garden. The pipe was attached at a T to
allow a section of the pipe to be seen above ground inside
of the garden. This white pipe was later decorated to be a
bird bath. |
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The pipe allows students to be able to remove the birdbath
to see the level of water that is under the ground. This
helps the students to see the water that is infiltrating the
ground. The rain garden is capturing stormwater runoff
pollution from the school roof. Sand was tilled in with the
soil to allow for greater infiltration.
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On April 3 students worked actively to plant 184 native
plants and mulch the rain garden. Planting day started with
the first class of students having an informative how-to by
Executive Director, Frank Rodgers, and the students worked
to level the rain garden. |
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They then were each able to plant the plants in the correct
location according to the planting map. The 2nd
and 3rd classes worked to plant their section of
the rain garden.( |
Each class had an interactive planting demo where they were
taught the proper way to plant their plant to make sure that
it had the best chance of survival. |
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The 4th class period planted the remaining plants
and mulched the rain garden. |
At the end of the work day students were proud of all of the
hard work that had completed. |
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The students continued to monitor the rain garden over the
remaining months of school. Outreach Coordinator, Molly
Barkman, returned to the school in May to conduct a wrap up
lesson for the school year. The pride of the rain garden was
still radiant in each of the students. They were able to see
the growth of the garden over the month. |
Students have taken ownership of the garden and make sure it
is well cared for during recess time.
In the fall of 2013 the log bench seating and raised bed
gardens will be installed completing the original plan for
the outdoor classroom. |
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