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What makes this a wicked problem?
What’s wrong with the courtyard now?
Right now there is enough table seating for about 8-12 people when most classes have about 20 kids. There simply isn't enough space for kids to work if they need a table. Along with the courtyard not having enough seating it is also an eyesore. The courtyard is not aesthetically pleasing to look at, the garden had overgrown weeds, there is moss growing on the bricks, there are weeds between the cracks in the cement, the tables we do have are worn out and the wood is starting to rot. We also have a huge hornet infestation, which makes it very difficult to be able to focus out there. We sent out a survey to staff at Osceola High School and asked what they would like to see out there, a lot of teachers responded with more seating, especially comfy seating. This is something that we are striving to achieve.
How do we plan to improve the courtyard?
We have already weeded the garden and removed unwanted plants, this space will be turned into a small and simple garden that is easy to maintain with a bench or a table in the middle. We have also found sturdier tables to bring in that will allow students to be able to work on assignments. We are brainstorming ideas to provide comfy/flexible seating such as hammock chairs, yoga mats, canopies, and benches.
What are obstacles that stop kids from being outside?
There are many reasons kids don't go outside such as living in a busy area with lots of cars, busy parents, bad weather, less area for outdoor activities such as parks, increased indoor play and screen time, and a lack of interest in the outdoors. Many children just don't find the outdoors exciting after having an abundance of materials and toys inside.
How can teachers implement movement in the classroom, and why is it important?
Teachers often have a hard time implementing movement in the classroom because it interferes with their curriculum and cuts down on the time that they can actively teach. Many teachers at Osceola bring their classes for a walk halfway through the class period. Still, for the teachers who don't want to disturb other classes or cause a disruption in focus to their own class, students could be directed to have a short conversation about the content with someone across the room, to grab a whiteboard from the counter, or walking to the teacher to hand in an assignment. Movement can also be incorporated into the seating chart with standing desks, bean bags, wobble chairs, yoga balls, or other forms of nontraditional seating. Activity in the classroom is vital because it allows students to focus, reset their minds, and reenergize their bodies. Movement can also reduce behaviors and increase academic performance.
What do we plan to do in the classroom to increase student movement?
We plan to add standing desks, per teachers' request, yoga balls, floor seating cushions, fidgets, and desk foot bands. We will also provide teachers with prompts to increase movement in classes; this could be a prompt such as “grab a whiteboard” or something more like “have a conversation about… with someone wearing the same color shoes”.
What are the benefits for students being outside during school?
Being outside can encourage students to do their work and may have more encouragement to do so because they aren’t sitting in a classroom for the whole hour. Being outside can be relaxing, and it reduces stress. Students performed better in school when their curriculum included outdoor education. Outdoor learning allows children to apply concepts learned inside the classroom to the real world. When a child’s curriculum includes natural learning, they explore nature, connect classroom lessons to the outdoors, and expand their practical knowledge.
What is the impact of the environment on mental health?
Being outside helps mental health by having a lower risk of depression and a faster stress recovery. Studying outside can make you focus more. It also allows us to be social and come together with family, friends, and new people. Spending time outdoors can help you sleep better at night. Being in green environments boosts various aspects of thinking, including attention, memory, and creativity, in people with and without depression. It might be hard to get outside on a busy day, but even taking a few minutes to go on a walk or going outside for a few minutes can help your mental health a lot. When it’s daytime, your brain naturally releases signals in your body to tell your body to wake up; at night the opposite happens, with it releasing melatonin, which helps you sleep, but when you spend all day inside, you aren’t getting the sunlight you need for this process to work making your sleep schedule affected.
How long has this been a problem in society?
Many individuals who have obesity also struggle with issues related to their mood, self-esteem, quality of life, and body image. The freedom and space of being outdoors can encourage more expansive movement, leading to good physical exercise and helping prevent obesity. Getting people outdoors and moving can help solve the problem of obesity because the more someone moves, the more energy they expend and the more calories they burn. This is a problem for society because people are more likely to have a habit of smoking or drinking at a young age; they also spend more hours on their electronics.
How is being inside bad for your health?
Sometimes, we want to stay inside cuddled but with a blanket and watch Netflix all day, but being inside too much can cause vitamin D deficiency; this nutrient is critical to help build a robust immune system. Being inside can increase your chances of catching infection and make it more difficult to fight off disease. It can also cause you to not sleep well at night if you are always inside. A study from the University of Rochester found that “spending time outside in green, natural environments can boost your physical and mental energy by nearly 40 percent.” Being inside can affect your appetite; you can become more hungry than usual, leading to carbohydrate cravings.
Sources used:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6052856/
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/
https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/wellness-benefits-great-outdoors
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