Red Hill Outdoor Learning
At Red Hill Elementary School, great instruction happens everywhere, including outdoors. Learning outdoors promotes physical activity, environmental stewardship, social skills, and academic growth. Our teachers work hard to design experiences aligned with state standards and have partnered with organizations like Project Wild and Wildrock to ensure research-based and creative experiences for all of our learners. Here are some great examples of outdoor learning at Red Hill.
Outdoor Learning at Red Hill Elementary 2024-2025
Kindergarten
Kindergarten gardeners planted, cared for, and harvested a variety of edible plants, including Éclair and Chandler strawberries, broccoli, carrots, purple cauliflower, and lettuces. They also planted a big patch of milkweed in one of their square beds to attract Monarch butterflies. Kindergarten also participated in outdoor imaginative play, building with the large outdoor building blocks, exploring the animals in our outdoor space, and taking a story walk in the tree hall. Students also took a nature walk to Mr. Powell's farm next door to the school, and they visited the habitat of the south fork of the Hardware River which runs through his property. Our newest addition to outdoor learning is our beautiful new water table feature!
First Grade
First graders were hard at work in our outdoor learning garden! They planted radishes, lettuce, and green onions; and have loved checking on their growth each week. We also created a calming sensory garden filled with succulents, where students can explore different textures and take a peaceful break during the day. It’s been a hands-on learning experience we’re proud to grow together! Families also joined the first grade classes to enjoy a picnic in our beautiful outdoor space at the end of the school year.
Second Grade
This spring, second graders planted a native plant garden to help support pollinators in our community. The students enjoyed watching the garden grow and learning about how native plants provide food and shelter for butterflies, bees, and other wildlife. You can see photos of the garden and the progress it has made.
In addition to our pollinator studies, we've been bird watching and feeding birds throughout the school year. In May, we launched our Bird Watching Journals, encouraging students to observe, record, and learn more about local bird species.
Third Grade
Third graders started with planting flowers earlier in the spring, with the plan to harvest seeds in the fall to plant next spring. Our big project was a soil experiment, where students had to plant seeds in 2 types of soil (one was topsoil, the other was a choice between clay, sand, or silt). Over 3-4 weeks, students measured, observed, and cared for their plants. Finally, each student write a letter to Mrs. McCullen offering a recommendation about which soil would be best for our gardens so that they produce healthy plants. Last week, students dug up volunteer tomato plants to share and worked together to mulch around trees planted earlier in the year.
Fourth Grade
Fourth graders established a Three Sisters Garden, where students actively participated in planting, tending, and (in the fall) will harvest crops. Rooted in Indigenous agricultural traditions, the Three Sisters Garden consists of corn, beans, and squash—plants that support one another’s growth in a sustainable ecosystem. This hands-on project provided students with meaningful, cross-curricular learning experiences that integrated science, social studies, and literacy. Through their work in the garden, students deepened their understanding of plant life cycles, symbiotic relationships and the wisdom of Indigenous farming practices. Additionally, the garden fostered collaboration, responsibility, and environmental stewardship as students cared for the plants and observed the interconnectedness of nature.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders conducted a bluebird research project. They made and posted two bluebird boxes. David Burt, Leighton Page, and Laurie McCullough from the Cove Garden Ruritans, and Eileen Merritt, helped students learn about insect finding and nest making. Students also learned about energy conservation by making Sun Ovens to make s'mores.
