From Classroom to Coop
Lessons From Our Feathered Friends
by Bill Earley, Coordinator of Environmental Education
In a world where kids are often disconnected from nature, outdoor learning is a wonderful way to bridge that gap! Outdoor experiences allow students to get comfortable around nature and deepen their understanding of our environment.
From Preschool to Middle School, the chicken coop has captured all our students' interest and curiosity. I see students excitedly run down to the coop, preferring to spend their recess time interacting with the chickens. Not only does it brighten their day, but it also makes school much more interesting and enjoyable.
Hatching a Love for the Outdoors
Spending a majority of the time indoors can create restlessness in children and a lack of environmental awareness. However, the implementation of outdoor learning and the newly built chicken coop have helped foster a newfound love for nature.
Outdoor learning provides educational opportunities that connect students with their natural environment. Through experiential learning, students will learn how to become willing and active participants in addressing environmental issues they will grow to be more aware of. For example, the 4th graders constructed an observation space on a hill overlooking the nature preserve, and just last year, our 5th graders helped the rock squirrel population in Trinity’s preserve by crafting dens. Being outdoors relieves their restlessness and increases their physical activity. Moreover, outdoor learning helps kids reconnect and recognize how our world works.
Chicken Coop-riculum
Constructing a chicken coop right next to our garden center has added another layer of outdoor enrichment. Managing and maintaining the coop has become part of the weekly gardening duties for our 7th grade gardeners. This helps teach responsibility and allows students to hone their observation skills and practice following directions.
Students will learn to admire and appreciate our winged companions as they become part of the Trinity community. Preschool kids are welcome to have an on-campus field trip to the garden and the coop at any time. I look forward to bringing the preschoolers into the coop to get closer to the chickens and share how we care for them. When kids see animals up close, it helps reduce their worries or fears around animals.
Eggs-ploring Future Plans
The chicken coop provides an authentic learning experience that spans multiple disciplines. For example, it gives a wonderful opportunity to potentially teach students an economic-focused lesson on everything that goes into creating a small business. It can teach students how to sell and advertise eggs, create surveys to determine pricing and consumer prospects, and what to do with the proceeds. Another idea could also use the eggs for service learning opportunities. Our 2nd graders already donate produce to the Austin Free Fridge Project, and we could also include fresh eggs.
We can further our outdoor space by adding onto the observation deck, building a preschool garden center, creating no-mow spaces to observe wildlife from Trinity’s trails, and more. The possibilities are endless!
About the Author
Bill Earley is the Coordinator of Ecological Studies and Sustainability at Trinity Episcopal School of Austin. In addition to his faculty role, he is also a member of the facility team. Bill is a parent of three former Trinity students and manages both the Trinity Wildlife Preserve and Garden Center. Bill has been an educator at Trinity for 13 years and has been an educator for 30 years.