Big Ideas
Having a “green” schoolyard that manages stormwater runoff is a boon for all.
The green or natural surfaces will not only act like sponges to capture stormwater but a greener outdoor environment can lead to improved health of our local waterways and all living things.
Students, teachers, staff and community members can all enjoy a cooler, greener environment in which to relax. Animals and birds can find a new home. What a great “win” for everyone !
Summary
In this learning experience students go through a brief planning process for designing a green schoolyard. Students will use Bregy Elementary as a case study, but the same process may be used with your own schoolyard map.
The first step will be for students to use an aerial map to calculate the volume of rainfall for sections of the schoolyard. Once the volume of rainfall is calculated, students consider which green schoolyard tools might best be included in their design. Their design decision should be based on not just the volume of water that needs to be captured and where the water flows naturally, but also the best use of the space for the students, Student groups will need to collaborate to design a schoolyard that includes a variety of learning, playing, and green spaces to make the most of their space.
Engage
Slides 2 and 3: The slide deck presents a few before/after photos of schoolyards before and after redesigns that incorporate green tools. The photos also show added play and activity spaces that were included to enhance and motivate the use of the spaces by the school.
Slide 4: The construction plan for Adaire Elementary in Fishtown. There are a lot of factors and criteria that go into how a schoolyard is redesigned. In addition to the volume of water that needs to be captured in a specific area, the infrastructure below the yard is considered. Sewers, pipes, cables and wires that serve the school and the neighborhood may not be able to be moved. The type of soil or groundfill on which the schoolyard sits is also a factor.
Slide 5: The decision to redesign a schoolyard is often tied to work being done by utilities and projects in the City. The Philadelphia Water Department, Parks and Recreation, even the Streets Department and other city services departments are collaborating. If the partner organizations are implementing a neighborhood redevelopment project, and the schoolyard is within the project’s scope, the schoolyard redesign becomes part of the larger project.
Explore and Explain
Students will use Bregy Elementary as a case study to understand stormwater as volume of water, and the various green tools deployed to manage it. You may want to use your own schoolyard map for this activity or continue with the Bregy example. You can always repeat the activity using your own schoolyard map as a final (MWEE) project.
Bregy Schoolyard Example
Measuring the schoolyard using Google Maps
Note: This activity uses the Bregy schoolyard as an example. You may want to instead use your own schoolyard map.
THIS DOCUMENT provides a step-by-step to measure areas on a google map.
The slide deck will describe the process of calculating the volume of rain falling in their assigned area. A worksheet is also provided HERE to guide the process.
How to manage the water: Green Infrastructure Tools
After the students complete the rainwater calculations, students can use the GSI cards to identify the tools that are appropriate to capture rainwater on their site.
Elaborate
Now students have all the tools they need to reimagine a schoolyard that manages rainwater and gives them an outdoor space in which to learn and play
When selecting the Green Infrastructure tools to install in a new schoolyard, we need to know how much rain potentially will fall in a specific section of the yard.
The amount of rain that needs to be managed needs to be considered to make sure the stormwater is addressed by the most appropriate tool.
In our last Learning Experience, we looked at the different tools that the Philadelphia Water Department employs in the different locations around the city. Using the GSI cards we looked at previously, think about which one works best for your section of the schoolyard.
Provide each small group with a poster board or chart paper. Each group will draw a rendering of their section of the schoolyard, labeling the tool that they have selected, and how much water will be captured. As they present their design decision, they can present their evidence of their calculated rainfall amount and the evidence that led to their design decision.
Extension
If students are interested, explore how Green Tools are protecting Philadelphia’s Waterways using the link below.
How green tools protect Philly’s waterways from Philadelphia Water Department on Vimeo.
View How Green Tools Protect Philadelphia’s Waterways below then make a list as a class..
Is there Green Stormwater Infrastructure in the neighborhood near your school? Use this list of projects to explore more.
Discuss what other improvements help manage polluted stormwater and improve and restore ecological health to our waterways such as wastewater treatment plant expansion or upgrades; stream bank restoration project; other ecological services—such as living shorelines and restoring freshwater mussels to our waterways to help keep them clean.
Teacher Support
Essential Question:
How can we create sustainable urban design solutions that work with the natural water cycle?
Driving Questions:
What are the best designs to capture and absorb water in different places?
What are the tools they are using that make up green infrastructure to manage the amount of water we need to manage?
Students will be able to:
Calculate the volume of rainwater that needs to be managed in order to determine what types of green infrastructure tools are best for their school location.
Design a green schoolyard (or adjacent area) plan of the whole greenspace or an aspect of one component (e.g. a raised bed, a pollinator garden) in order to contribute to the Green City Clean Water Plan that address authentic problems in their school community.
Green Roof noun
A roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.
Impervious adjective
A hard surface area that either prevents or slows the entry of water into a soil as under natural conditions prior to development
Infiltration noun
The penetration of water into sub-surface soil or the penetration of water from the soil into sewer or pipes through defective joints, connections, or manhole walls.
Pervious/Permeable noun
Surfaces that allow the penetration of water into the ground.
Porous Pavement noun
Pavement that allows stormwater and snowmelt to pass through the voids in the paved surface and infiltrate into the sub-base.
Precipitation noun
Rain, snow, sleet, and hail- the moisture supply….
Rain Garden noun
A planted depression or a hole that allows rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas, like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots and compacted lawn areas, the opportunity to be absorbed.
Transpiration noun
The process by which water vapor is lost to the atmosphere from living plants.
Stormwater Tree Trench noun
A system of trees that are connected by an underground infiltration structure. On the surface, a stormwater tree trench looks just like a series of street tree pits. However, under the sidewalk, there is an engineered system to manage the incoming runoff.
Swale/Bioswale noun
A long, gently sloped, vegetated ditch designed to filter pollutants from stormwater.
Vegetated Filter Strip noun
A defined area covered with plants designed to remove pollutants and sediment from runoff water via particle settling, water infiltration, and nutrient uptake.
Calculate the volume of rainwater that needs to be managed (start with the Bregy schoolyard and then theirs if possible) in order to determine what types of green infrastructure tools are best for the school yard.
PA STEELS
3.4 Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
Sustainability and Stewardship 3.4.6-8.H: Design a solution to an environmental issue in which individuals and societies can engage as stewards of the environment.