Classroom Design

By Michelle Ryan

Scenario 4

• It's 2063 and the last of the 1960's prefab classrooms are being decommissioned. You have been given the brief to redesign a classroom that has direct access to the school yard, veggie patch and chooks.

Pre- Planning

• Removal of prefab classrooms:

• Use of professionals that will remove any asbestos and dispose of it in a safe and secure manner.

• Communication with school community regarding the safe removal of the asbestos.

• Testing of the soil to ensure no traces of asbestos are left and soil is nutrient content so its compatible to plant vegetables.

Recipe for success:

• To ensure success of the vegetable patch and chook pen I think a lot of educating to students, parents and teachers is vital.

• A whole school policy would need to be introduced to ensure all parties are willingly involved in making it a success.

• The school would need to adopt a sustainable “being green’ policy.

• Students and parents would need to be educated on the following:

• Planting fruits & vegetables

• Taking care of fruits & vegetables

• Taking care of animals such as hens

• Recycling

• Composting

• Reusable lunchboxes and water bottles – leave no trace

• Eating locally

• Selling fruits, vegetables & eggs

Classroom Design:

• The environment in the classroom must adopt the green ethos

• Small potted plants in the room

• Direct access to chicken coop

• Direct access to vegetable garden

• Direct access to playground

Vegetable Garden

I envisage the vegetable to look similar to this picture. The students would have direct view and access to the garden to take care of it on a daily basis.

The playground

• The playground would have a mixture of grass and bark chippings.

• Necessary shade would be provided over the play equipment.

• Use of recyclable materials such as the tyre would be included to promote reduce, reuse, recycle

• Trees and potted plants would be incorporated to give the playground a “green feel”.

The Hen Coop

• The hen coop would be built to ensure the hens had enough space to roam within the boundaries and shelter from the elements.

• Students would sell the eggs to parents each afternoon.

• Money raised wold go towards maintenance of the vegetable garden.

Composting

The students would be responsible for filling and taking care of the compost bin each day.Students would be educated about the importance of a compost bin, the uses and what food scraps can go in the bin.

Rain Water Tank

A rain water tank would be used to collect rain water to water the garden.

In Summary

• Including a vegetable garden and hen coop would require lots of educating and training of the whole school community.

• The school grounds would have elements of the natural environment, built environment and social environment . Children’s awareness of these and the way they learn to treat them will help them grow into responsible adults.