Application Request/Project Summary:

Star Elementary School

Project Name: Enriching our World

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Narrative / Scope of Work

Star Elementary School has established an Outdoor Classroom area over the past two years. This area includes multiple weather stations, pollinator gardens, natural areas, raised beds, and more. We are extremely grateful for this grant opportunity because we have ongoing goals to better equip this area to meet the NC Standards for our students, particularly in Science and Math, as well as to sustain many of the activities we have developed space for.  These sustainable activities include, but are not limited to, seasonal plantings in our raised beds and pollinator gardens.  Our Outdoor Classroom is available to all students, Pre-K through 5th Grade.

Over these past 2 years we have found that the Outdoor Classroom learning environment crosses all curricular areas. From our NC Standards as well as our Core Knowledge Language Arts, this classroom provides opportunities for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, Math (STREAM), Social/Emotional development through interactions and teamwork, and just absolute FUN through real world experiences.

​​Keep North Carolina Beautiful’s WOO Grant Program is helping transform this school’s outdoor space into a dynamic Outdoor Classroom where students can experience hands-on learning through nature, science, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

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Serving multiple grade levels, the project will provide students with immersive opportunities to study weather, ecosystems, gardening, agriculture, erosion, recycling, composting, pollinators, and sustainability through real-world experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. Students will actively participate in maintaining gardens, collecting weather data, building bird houses, conducting science experiments, and designing environmentally friendly learning spaces.

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The Outdoor Classroom will feature raised garden beds, pollinator and sensory gardens, weather observation stations, composting areas, bird habitats, erosion studies, and interactive learning stations that support science, math, engineering, and environmental education throughout the school year.

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Beyond academics, the project encourages student leadership, creativity, teamwork, and community pride while helping foster a lifelong appreciation for nature and environmental responsibility. As the space continues to grow and evolve over time, it will serve as a lasting educational resource and community asset for years to come.

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Project Site Photos

KNCB Visit / Pre-project