XCS to Break Ground on New Outdoor Learning Lab at Tecumseh
Posted on 03/15/2024
This May, Xenia Community Schools will break ground at Tecumseh Elementary School to create a new outdoor learning space for students across the district.
Known as the Tecumseh Habitat Lab, the space is designed to be an interactive outdoor learning classroom where students can get hands-on as they explore various fundamental science topics. In particular, the Lab will offer teachers more creative opportunities to teach K-5 life science standards, including: habitats, wildlife, and life cycles. It will be open to all Xenia students, with mini-field trips expected to be part of the classroom schedule for students in other buildings.
To plan the space, student representatives from each grade at Tecumseh will meet three times with Chad Norton of Buckeye Waterscapes and Eric Montgomery of Montgomery Landscaping to give critical input on the project prior to construction beginning in May 2024. For the project, the students learned about which native plants would be a good fit for the space, and have already chosen a flower for each grade level to grow. These will be planted as seeds this spring in grow labs, and then transplanted into the outdoor space when construction is complete.
WATCH this explanation of the new space from two students on the planning committee, then scroll down to read more about the project below:
Why a Habitat Lab?
Studying topics such as life cycles in the classroom provides important basic science knowledge, but giving children the chance to put their hands in the dirt and coax plants to life will make these lessons memorable. Students will be able to watch these lessons in real time throughout the year, learning from success and failure alike, giving them a solid foundation for more advanced learning in the years to come. It is our hope that this space will inspire students to be curious and interact with the world around them in new ways.
~ Mrs. Statzer, Principal at Tecumseh Elementary.
Why Build it at Tecumseh?
Fortunately, we have the ideal green space at Tecumseh to create an outdoor learning area! There is plenty of wooded land in the area that is already home to native plants and animals, making the outdoor space a logical extension of that area onto the property at Tecumseh Elementary.
How is the Project Funded?
The project is estimated to cost a total of $33,000. It is primarily paid for through ESSR funds, with Xenia Township donating $1,500 toward electrical work and $2,000 provided through a Joint Economic Development Grant.