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Environmental Education

'The modern Western education system - which has successfully replaced indigenous forms of education through out the world - prepares students almost exclusively for an urban existence and dependence on fossil fuel and global trade. Children are taught from an early age how best to compete. But they are not taught how best to live in a truly sustainable society.'
David Orr, The Ecologist, May 1999.

First the education of the senses then the education of the intellect." Dr Maria Montessori

 

Carlton Primary School is located in the heart of Carlton. The school plays an important role in the lives of the local community, and works with the local community to the benefit of all.The large school grounds are a valuable space for recreation for students and other community members, in an inner city area with limited parklands. The school has well treed grounds, with more planted regularly, providing ample shade over many seating areas.

 

Garden philosophy:

Many of the students at Carlton Primary School have little or no garden at home, so the school provides an important opportunity to explore and work in a garden. The school gardens are incorporated into the school curriculum through the environmental education programme. In keeping with the philosophies of the school's developmental curriculum, the students in Environmental Education are ‘learning by doing’. The students are responsible for selecting the plants to grow, where to grow them and investigating the plants' growing requirements. The students design and make garden beds for the kitchen garden. The students also source materials for the gardens, with a strong emphasis on reusing and recycling materials for a lower environmental impact. The school has a variety of garden types and the students investigate what will grow where and the requirements of the different gardens.

 

Much of the environmental education programme will focus on the following projects that have been implemented at the school:

Rain Garden                                              (Supported by Melbourne Water)

Kitchen Garden                                         (Supported by City of Melbourne)

The Sustainables Challenge                   (Dept. of Sustainability and the Environment)

Multicultural School Gardens                  (Supported by the Gould Group)

Resource Smart Schools

Australian Sustainable Schools initiative                            

These programmes all come with an environmental curriculum attached, which will be delivered across the school throughout the year.

Through hands on learning the students will experience many things including:

Composting – worm farms and compost bins

Mulching – how and why

Making a kitchen garden

Growing, harvesting, preparing and eating their own food

Making a bush tucker garden

Planting a rain garden

Different ecosystems established in the school grounds. E.g. butterfly garden, water wise garden, cottage garden, succulent garden, rainforest.

As well as the above mentioned groups, the programme is also receiving support – material, physical and monetary from the following groups:

University High School (Advance), Sustainability Street, Cultivating Community, University of Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Carlton Rotary Club.

Aims of programme:

For the students to learn about plants and animals, through real life, practical application through the exploration and development of biodiversity – both within the school grounds and out into the wider community.

To integrate environmental education into a holistic programme with measurable environmental, economic, educational and social outcomes. The programme implements improvements in the school's management of resources and physical environment (including energy, waste, water, biodiversity, landscape design, products and materials) and integrates this approach into the existing curriculum and daily running of the school. The programme is action based and involves the whole school community in the sustainable management of the school.

For more information please contact: Christopher Burgess. If you would like to become a volunteer, click here.

         Environmental Education teacher