Teacher Focus Group Follow Up

Yesterday's Teacher Focus Group was fantastic!

I spent the day in my coordinating teacher's classroom as the students worked on a project about adaptation, specifically in bears. Its a really cool project. I've learned a lot - for example, some bears make nests in trees.

I think one of the greatest things I am learning from this project is how schools work and a bit more about what its like to be a teacher.

Anyway, here is a summary of the focus group:

Six teachers came: Technology, Language arts, Math, and 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Science teachers

Almost all of the teachers have done things outside. The language arts classes have not done so yet, but ALL of the teachers want to do more outside. YAY!!!!

Things that the teachers have done outside include:
-launching rockets
-Math Olympics
-testing soil
-learning about motion and forces
-Orienteering to learn about angles and mapping
-learning about mapping (two teachers did a 3-D mapping project that was presented at a National Science Teacher's Association conference!)

Teachers also take students outside after testing to socialize and be active.

Things the teachers could see doing outside:
-learning about civil engineering
-learning about how the landscape is impacted by human development
-teaching a regular lesson in a new setting
-mapping

What does the school already have?
-A courtyard
-AMAZING and interested parents/guardians, teachers, students, and administration!!!!!
-lots of connections and skills (building, painting)
-a working weather station and read out screen
-compasses
-AND the school is getting a rain garden!!!

(Note: The picture is a dated picture of the courtyard. I will try to get newer ones.
http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us/mcdmidl/virtualtour1/DSC15_JPG.html)

What do teachers want in an outdoor classroom?
-places to sit (not neanderthal style rocks or chigger infested bricks :-)
-a board to write on
-clipboards
-storage
-shelter
-water access and drain
-ability to move around/have a change in scenery
-safety/low risk of vandalism
-ability to teach normal lessons outside
-some where to launch stuff

Issues:
-keeping student attention
-will their be new construction at the school that will affect the outdoor classroom?
-vandalism
-disturbing others
-usefulness

SO...here is our current idea:
The current plan is to have a multi-part outdoor classroom. There will the the rain garden that the eighth graders and people from State are working on, a revamped courtyard, and a rock garden around campus. Having the rock garden around campus will enable teachers and students to move around and explore mapping and the geology of North Carolina. Having the courtyard will serve as an art studio, classroom, and "living lab". It will be a safe location.

This is an insanely long post. So, if anyone reads this, I have some questions:
What would you like in an outdoor classroom?
How would you take care of the classroom long-term?