The MSS Outdoor Classroom has been developed through the work of many volunteers over many years, and through the generosity of the school and P&C. Designed to be a relaxing and reflective space, it is home to our kitchen garden and environmental projects, as well as a number of outdoor learning stations.
Yarning circle
Yarning is a friendly conversation that allows everyone to have their say in a safe and respectful way. A yarning circle in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures is a significant place for sharing stories and passing on important information. Yarning is a friendly conversation that allows everyone to have their say in a safe and respectful way.
A yarning circle is a place where the community can learn together, build respectful relationships, and preserve and pass on cultural knowledge. When using this space, we encourage you to take some time to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians.
In this place we take time to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land. We pay deepest respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise that this land has always been a place for learning, teaching and research.
Kitchen Garden
We grow a range of fruits, vegetables and herbs in our kitchen garden. Check the signs and markers at each area to see what’s growing. All produce is grown organically and harvested to supply the school tuckshop with fresh ingredients for healthy school lunches.
Our vegepods grow different seasonal vegetables and we rotate crops through each pod based on whether they are root, leaf or fruit crops. A citrus garden, with two native finger lime trees and another lime tree, is just over the fence outside the seating area. We also have passionfruit vines, a banana plant, an avocado tree and an abundance of herbs.
We also have a number of bush tucker plants in the outdoor classroom gardens and in other areas around the school. Bush food has sustained generations of traditional Australians for centuries, and today represents a rich and vibrant history in Australia’s culture.
Pond
Our freshwater pond is full of life – there are various plants, aquatic animals and bacteria living here. Rooted and floating plants, aquatic grasses and phytoplankton produce nutrients and oxygen. Zooplankton are very tiny animals that float in the water and eat the plants. Small fish called Pacific Blue-eyes live in the pond too. They’re native to north-eastern Australia and feed on the zooplankton. They also love to eat any mosquito larvae that happen to be in the pond.
Group work areas
There are several areas set up for groups of students to work together in the outdoor classroom. The shaded corner bench seats near the pond and the yarning circle stones allow for larger groups while the alcove (with hidden doorway) and log table and chairs provide places for small groups to work or play together together.
Lizard Lounge
Lizards, skinks and geckos are visitors to many gardens in Australia, and are fantastic garden guardians, providing excellent natural pest control. Sadly, urban lizard populations are on the decline due to the loss of lizard friendly habitats.
If you look carefully along the cliff top area, you will see where we have made a lizard lounge. This is designed to be a lizard-friendly location with shelter, basking rocks and plants. You might see lizards here sunning themselves, enjoying the shade or rubbing against the rocks to help loosen dry skin.
Native Bee Hotel
Native bees can be found in most of Australia’s diverse habitats and they are important pollinators of Australia's wildflowers and crops. Many can be found buzzing through carpets of flowers in our bushlands and swarming around the blossoms at the tops of gum trees. Populations of native bees are threatened by land clearing and pesticide use.
At MSS, we help to support native bees by planting bee-friendly gardens and setting up bee hotels. Native bees are stingless and usually much smaller than honey bees. They often migrate from place to place, so sometimes you will see many guests in our bee hotel and sometimes it’s empty.
Composting Station
Composting is the natural way to recycle. Plant and food waste is broken down in the compost bin, by insects and microorganisms, into organic matter that is used to enrich the soil. The ‘Hungry’ compost bin takes fruit and vegetable scraps from the tuckshop and from school lunch left-overs. Brown waste, dry leaves are added on top of each layer of food scraps. When the bin is full, the mix is left to decompose for 6-12 weeks. After this, the compost is used in the gardens all around the school.
Garden Shed
No garden area would be complete without a garden shed, to keep tools and supplies in. This area is used by a number of groups, with tool provided through grant funding and donations. The school Environment Club runs regular weekend working bees and after school sessions to help keep the grounds and gardens looking beautiful. Dates and times are advertised in school communications.
Learning Stations
Sensory pathway: The branching sensory pathway leads past the learning stations to the yarning circle and garden shed. This path has sections of different sensory elements which provide a colourful and playful way for students to improve motor skills, and build stronger connections in the brain that are responsible for sight, touch, sound, and balance. It also just feels nice to walk on the different surfaces!
Compass points: There is a compass painted on the path around a tree in the centre of the garden. The directions indicated are accurate and this learning station can be used to support classes in learning directions and also for class thinking routines.
Sight word wall: Our stone sight word wall has the ‘No Excuse’ words that all students at MSS learn. Sight words are the words that appear most frequently in our reading and writing. This outdoor learning station provides a different way for students to learn and practice sight words.
Musical pipes: Making music in the great outdoors creates endless learning opportunities and encourages children to explore and investigate sounds, rhythms and beats.
Magnifying stations: This outdoor science station is designed to help students better understand and connect with nature. You will be able to see veins in a leaf, the body of an insect, and even particles of sand.
Stone abacus: The abacus is a centuries-old tool used by many peoples across the world for maths calculations. This one has three rows, with ten stones on each row. This learning station provides a different way for students to explore mathematical concepts.