There's also a desert area, a butterfly garden, an amphitheater, and a growing array of birdhouses. Educators say using the outdoors as a learning laboratory gives students a better understanding of science concepts than they can get from a textbook or even a classroom science lab. They say this approach gives students a sense of ownership of their world and helps them appreciate nature and understand the need to protect the ecosystem. Teachers at Meadowbrook Elementary use the school's outdoor development area to present hands-on lessons about science, math, and history. They also find it useful for art, creative writing exercises, and quiet reflection.
Local residents help maintain the area and donated plants native to Utah.
Other schools and the public have been invited to use the park. The Watertown, Wis., school district also sees the benefit of outdoor education. Multidisciplinary The district proposes to create the Riverside Outdoor Education Center on four acres of land it owns along the Rock River shoreline across the street from Riverside Middle School. The center's curriculum will incorporate the arts, social studies, and physical education, as well as science. Riverside Principal Kent Jacobson says he sees a lot of cross-curriculum opportunities at the outdoor center.