Yearly Archives: 2014


Schoolyard Graphs

It was a strange sight—twenty three fifth graders forming several head-to-toe lines as they stretched out on the playground. Although it looked like a game, these students were actually taking an abstract concept and translating it into concrete (pardon the pun!) terms.   Teacher Laura Grimm had been teaching the […]


Create-A-Wilderness

Schools in urban environments frequently have meager amounts of green space that can be utilized for outdoor learning. The National Inventor’s Hall of Fame® Middle School…Center for STEM Learning in Akron, Ohio was faced with exactly that challenge. The school is in the heart of downtown Akron, surrounded by concrete, […]


Art in the Courtyard

The school grounds can be used as a source of content, or as a venue for learning. At Lancaster High School in Ohio a courtyard has become the venue for displaying an innovative art project that encourages creativity while building a sense of unity. Art Instructor Suzy Rogers teaches the […]


Create a Critter Hostel

Question: What makes a school site a rich teaching resource? Answer:   A diverse collection of plants and small critters!   I’m a fan of low cost/no cost site enhancements that encourage plant and animal diversity on a school site. On a recent visit to the children’s area of the Cleveland, […]