At Clearview, Learning Extends Beyond the Classroom
Jeanne Lukas-Ross has been involved with FCPS’ Get2Green and Eco Clubs since she became a teacher at Clearview. She enjoys being outdoors and is a certified Virginia master naturalist — a trained volunteer that helps gather data for scientists, restore and maintain habitats, and complete education related service projects. But even more so, she strongly believes “the kids need to be outside.”
A couple years ago, she landed a “dream job” when a resource teacher was switching from full-time to part-time work, and the principal asked Jeanne if she knew of anyone who would be able to work as a part time outdoor learning teacher. She embraced the opportunity eagerly!
“When there was funding for a part-time resource teacher, I didn’t have to think twice about what to use the position for,” said Principal Stephanie Almquist. “We have incredible outdoor spaces already created with the help of Jeanne and it made sense to provide this learning opportunity for our younger students.”
As a kindergarten teacher, Jeanne was observing weaker fine motor skills in younger children, and more time being spent on electronics. She wanted to help balance these changes with getting children outdoors and interacting with natural materials. At Clearview, students in grades K-3 participate in a weekly outdoor learning class.
“Research on the impact of outdoor learning has shown physical and mental health benefits — building confidence, enhancing critical and creative thinking, teaching responsibility, improving short-term memory and eyesight and reducing stress in addition to other benefits,” Jeanne said. “Seeing things in real life versus through a screen allows other senses to engage and makes the activity more interesting. Also, the change to outside especially helps some students who otherwise may struggle in the classroom. When we have to stay inside due to bad weather, the students are incredibly disappointed. When they come in from outside they are usually tired, but happy.”
Second graders excitedly experimented in tubs of sand — using their fingers to build a river bed, lining it with rocks, and then experimenting by lightly spraying water on it, letting a slow trickle of water flow, and then dumping water like a hurricane. Although many of them appeared to just be having fun, through the experience the students were learning about land, water, erosion, and the scientific process.
“Everything’s moving,” one student said. “They went in the water because there was too much water pressure,” another student said about the rocks along the river.
Next, Jeanne showed the students a tuft of grass with roots. “Look how much dirt the roots hold,” she told the students. Referring to an area of the school grounds the class had examined at the start of class, she asked the students what they should do to stop the dirt from washing away.
Jeanne plans to work with third graders — who studied soils recently — on a project-based learning (PBL) experience to solve erosion in that area of the grounds. Ideally, planting will take place in May.
In addition to the weekly classes for pre-K-3 students, Jeanne works with other grades occasionally as it fits into their curriculum. She’s worked with fourth grade students to create a meadow with Fairfax County’s Stormwater Management Program.
She also learned the school is considered a “heat island” (temperatures on school grounds are higher than surrounding areas due to a lack of vegetation), so she has worked with Fairfax County Urban Forest Management to have sixth grade students and the after school eco club plant 24 trees in the last year. Later in spring, fifth grade students will paint some of the storm drains around school to inform people to not throw trash and other items down them since all the water ultimately drains to the Chesapeake Bay and then the ocean.
“Jeanne's work as the Get2Green leader at Clearview is a model for how Get2Green's professional development and connection to community partners benefits students’ learning and wellbeing in the outdoors,” says Ali Culhane, senior manager for Get2Green. “We encourage Get2Green Leaders to start small. Jeanne’s commitment to building the program over several years shows how planting a seed can grow into robust environmental stewardship opportunities for all students.”
As the weather warms, Jeanne is planning ahead for next year’s curriculum. She plans to work with students to plant pumpkins for next year’s kindergarten students to examine in the fall, and plant corn for the fall fifth grade Benchmark language arts lessons.
