Creating Outdoor Classrooms: Schoolyard Habitats and Gardens for the Southwest

Contents

Contents Preface, xi | Acknowledgments, xiii Kim Duffek: Introduction About This Book, xv Making Outdoor Classrooms a Reality, xv The Need for Wildlife Habitat and Native Gardens, xvi Bioregions of the Arid Southwest, xvi Chapter 1: Schoolyards The Schoolyard as an Outdoor Classroom, 1 Overview of Schoolyard Environments, 2 Introduction, 2 History of Playground Design with Applications for Contemporary Playground Design, 2 Nature and Play, 6 Adult Memories of Valued Play Places, 8 Implications for Design, 9 Learning and the Natural Outdoor Classroom, 10 Schoolyard Garden Types, 14 Art Gardens, 14 Cultural History Gardens, 16 Ecological Gardens, 17 Literacy Gardens, 18 Vegetable Gardens, 20 viii creating outdoor classrooms contents Chapter 2: Design Theory Introduction, 23 History of Garden Styles, 23 Prehistoric “Gardens” (20,000–3300 BC), 24 Ancient Egyptian Gardens (3300–500 BC), 24 Ancient Mesopotamian (3500–538 BC), Sumerian (3500–900 BC), Assyrian (900–625 BC), and Neo-Babylonian (611–538 BC) Gardens, 25 Ancient Persian Gardens (539–331 BC), 26 Ancient Greek Gardens (700–136 BC), 26 Ancient Roman Gardens (510 BC–AD 476), 27 Ancient Chinese Gardens (1600 BC–AD 1279), 27 Japanese Gardens (AD 575–1600), 28 Medieval European Gardens (AD 476–1350), 29 Islamic (Moorish) Gardens, Spain (AD 700s–1400s), 30 Italian Renaissance Gardens (AD 1350–1765), 31 French Grand-Style Gardens (AD 1495–1750), 32 English Romantic Gardens (AD 1715–1840), 32 Spanish Colonial Gardens (AD 1492–mid-1700s), 33 Colonial and Early American Gardens (AD 1630–1840), 34 American Romantic Gardens (AD 1830–1930), 35 Victorian Gardens (AD 1820–1900), 36 Classical Beaux-Arts Gardens (AD 1893–1930), 37 Modern Gardens (AD 1930–late 1970s), 38 Postmodern and Contemporary Gardens (AD mid-1970s–present), 39 Design Fundamentals, 40 Design Principles, 40 Design Elements, 43 Chapter 3: Beginning the Design Process Introduction, 45 A Design Process for Planning Outdoor Classrooms, Wildlife Habitats, and Gardens, 47 Identify Participants, 47 Write a Design Program, 50 Conclusion, 71 Chapter 4: Site Research and Design Synthesis Review and Evaluate Previous Steps, 73 Site Research, 73 Site Selection, 73 Site Inventory, 74 Site Analysis, 77 Design Synthesis, 86 Conceptual Design, 87 Zones, Spaces, Design Features, and Spatial Sequencing, 87 Circulation Patterns, 87 Testing Design Concepts, 88 ix creating outdoor classrooms contents Preliminary Design, 93 Final Design, 96 Chapter 5: Design Essentials Introduction, 99 Project Funding, 99 Grants and Cash Donations, 100 In-kind Donations, 100 Organization of the Fund-raising Process, 101 Design Features, 101 Earthworks, 102 Ponds, 102 Plants, 104 Shade Structures, 108 Storage Areas, 110 Pathways, 110 Seating, 112 Walls, 113 Signs, 114 Maintenance, 115 Weeding, 115 Fertilization, 115 Pruning, 116 Bird Feeders and Bird Baths, 116 Accessibility, 116 Requirements, 116 Safety, 117 Project Evaluation and Revision, 117 Outdoor Classroom and Schoolyard Habitat Assessment Criteria, 119 Chapter 6: Ecological Principles and Wildlife by Kim Duffek Introduction to Wildlife Ecology, 123 Elements for Survival, 125 Food Resources, 125 Water Availability, 126 Providing Shelter, 128 Space to Survive, 129 Pollinator Gardens and Wild Visitors, 130 Introduction, 130 Hummingbird Gardens, 131 Butterfly Gardens, 133 Bee Gardens, 134 Moth Gardens, 135 Bat Gardens, 136 Fly Gardens, 137 Wildlife Gardens, 138 Completing the Web, 139 Pest Control, 139  creating outdoor classrooms contents Decomposition, 141 Unwanted Visitors, 141 Seeds for Thought, 142 Words of Inspiration, 144 Appendix: Regional Plant Tables by Kim Duffek, 145 References and Additional Reading, 179 ...