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Sample School Grounds Action Plan

Learning Objectives

To interpret data from the school grounds audit
To evaluate needs arising from the audit data
To provide realistic solutions to these needs
To cooperate effectively as a group

Curriculum Links

English, Science, Math, Geography, Citizenship

Eco-Schools USA Pathways

School Grounds, Water, Energy, Green Hour

Greening your grounds by creating a Schoolyard Habitat

The Eco-Schools USA School Grounds pathway provides an opportunity to fully engage students, administration and community members. The National Wildlife Federation provides an action plan and guide for creating a sustainable schoolyard habitat.

The Schoolyard Habitat® online planning guide is divided into seven sections from conception of project to use and maintenance.

Part 1: What is a Schoolyard Habitat?
What is a Schoolyard Habitat and how does it benefit students, teachers, our school and our community? Find answers to these topics, a list of frequently asked questions, and how NWF's Schoolyard Habitats program can help you along the way as you build an outdoor classroom and a new home for wildlife.

Part 2: Understand the science of Schoolyard Habitat
Learn what wildlife species need from their habitat, how to fulfill those needs through your Schoolyard Habitat, and how to attract certain wildlife to your site.

Part 3: Teaching Tool
Find techniques and activities for teaching grades K-12 in an outdoor classroom on a variety of subjects, and ways to analyze and manage your curriculum.

Part 4: Planning for Schoolyard Habitat
A guide through key steps to begin your Schoolyard Habitat, including gathering a team, choosing a site and planning your garden, and activities to keep students involved from beginning to end.

Part 5: Installing the Schoolyard Habitat
Checklists and steps to finalize your plan, help gathering resources like volunteers and funds, important factors to optimize your habitat's design and accessibility, and suggested steps and activities as you break new ground and coordinate the planting.

Part 6: Sustaining your Schoolyard Habitat
Make sure your habitat site continues to thrive for years to come with key steps including a maintenance plan for the site, process for regular site upkeep, and activities to keep students and their parents involved.

Part 7: Appendix and Resources
Find additional information on NWF's mission and education programs, workshop overviews, NWF contact information for school-based programs, tips for teaching outdoors, a glossary of terms and more.

Eco-Schools USA Partner

Green Ribbon Schools

For examples of other activities, check out these suggested actions from the Texas Green Ribbon Schools that align with our pathways. Activities under the Texas Green Ribbon program can be used for meeting many of the Eco-Schools USA seven step requirements!