The schoolyard wildlife habitat in the Ironia Courtyard serves as an outdoor classroom. This living laboratory enhances student learning and encourages children to explore and connect with their natural surroundings.

The schoolyard habitat presents numerous opportunities for inspiration and investigation that can be interwoven within all subjects of the school curriculum. Each subject, from music and art to science, math, health, and language, can offer an outdoor component that draws important concepts from nature.

In observing and caring for nature in their own schoolyard, children learn to respect the creatures that share their planet. Their school year is marked by the cycle of the seasons, as students investigate changes in their gardens and the activities of wildlife. They recognize how their actions affect others and begin to understand their own place in nature's web of life. This knowledge encourages better stewardship of our environment and fosters a conservation ethic that, ultimately, benefits us all.

The Ironia Courtyard Habitat Project has several goals encompassing ecology and education:

Ecology -

• Preservation: enlighten students and the general public about the importance of preserving natural habitats for wildlife,
• Restoration of native plants: restore native flowers, shrubs, and grasses that provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Education -

• Living laboratory: establish a "living laboratory" where students can participate in cross-curricula studies that draw from real life experiences,

Nurture an understanding and respect for our environment so that children can take pride and "ownership" in their natural surroundings - provide opportunities for teachers/students to create and maintain their own learning experiences (habitat projects, guest speakers, enrichment programs).