– Outdoor Learning Environment –
Fifth-grade Study of Prairie Grasses
Donnette Durham's fifth-grade science classes began the 2006-07 school year with a project-based study of prairie grasses native to Texas. The study began in the school's Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE), where students identified various prairie grasses growing there. They followed up their observations in the OLE with extensive research that they organized into data sheets that they posted on a hallway bulletin board with collected samples of the grasses.
Sharon, one of our master gardeners here at Alice Carlson, is showing 5th grade students lemongrass located in the O.L.E. (Caption written by Chase D.)
Notice how detailed this 5th grade journal is (Misty's). All 5th graders keep very detailed science journals. This science journal shows the grasses in the O.L.E. (Caption written by Marshall M. and Chase D.)

This is a picture of the seeds of Inland Sea Oats (left) and Blue Grama (right). These are two grasses in Alice Carlson's O.L.E. These seeds were collected for fall planting in the O.L.E. (Caption written by Hannah T.)
All the fifth graders took pictures of the grasses that they studied. In this photo Claire holds back the other grass so Kasey can get a good picture of their grass, Indian grass. (Caption written by Claire and Kasey)
This report on Sideoats Grama was written by Chase D. and Grayson B. It can be seen on the bulletin board located in the 5th grade hall along with many other reports by other 5th graders. The pictures shown in the reports on the bulletin board were taken by 5th grade students. (Caption written by Chase D.)
To get the bulletin board started, Grayson carefully measured paper to cover the board.
Brooke and Claudia work on the bulletin board outside the office. (Caption by Jalen)
When this picture was taken, the grasses bulletin board was a work-in-progress, with students gradually posting their data sheets as they completed them.
The completed bulletin board, in the hallway outside the cafeteria, is a highly informative, student-generated collection of data about eleven species of grass growing in Carlson's OLE.
Students used their mounted data-sheets as "pockets" to hold their collected samples of prairie grasses from Carlson's OLE. It makes a striking display for all to enjoy and learn from.
– CREDITS –

PHOTOS TAKEN BY
Donnette, Grace, Charles

CAPTIONS WRITTEN BY
Fifth-graders (See names above in parentheses)
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