Taylor Students Take Learning Outside

By Justin Foss, Reporter

Joseph Etheridge, 5, of Cedar Rapids peers through the window of his classroom as his mom Laurie Etheridge watches from behind him at Taylor School in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Taylor School will not reopen this year due to flood damage and Etheridge is forced to find another school for her son Joseph to attend. (Courtney Sargent/The Gazette)

Tools

By Justin Foss

Story Created: May 2, 2009 at 5:17 PM CST

Story Updated: May 2, 2009 at 9:10 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - With the sun shining, kids of all ages took time to get their hands dirty and help clean up the once flooded Taylor Elementary School.

Saturday's focus was on getting the school yard in shape, and Trees Forever workers were on hand thanks to a grant awarded to the school.

"Seeing and being around green space helps kids concentrate, it gives them more of a connection to the outdoors, also instead of just learning about nature inside, they get to go out and experience it," said Karen Brook of Trees Forever, which is based in Marion.

The kids definitely got dirty, but that happens when it's all in the name of learning.

"By enhancing the outdoor learning areas, we help kids get in touch with nature, pull them away from the TV screen occasionally, get outside and enjoy the wonders of nature," said Taylor Elementary School Principal Brian Christoffersen.

Bringing those wonders out is taking extra work after the flood left this yard a mess with glass shards, litter and debris.

Part of Saturday's focus was on creating a new area where students can plant native grasses and flowers, although those plants won't be fully developed for a few years.

"For the first couple years there will be little prairie plants and you won't see a whole lot; they'll need weeding. But, in 3 years or so nice fill grown flowers will be blooming thought the summer," said Brook.

As for the school building, Christoffersen said they were only minor delays, but essentially everything is running on schedule, and they should be able to move in by June.

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