Thrasher Elementary is making further use of its 10-acre campus with a new pavilion that will serve as an outdoor classroom.
"The pavilion will enable teachers to conduct more outdoor, student-driven studies with all aspects of nature, including water from the nearby pond," said Kim Fookes, a parent who managed the project. "Fortunately, Mr. Paulson, the new principal, feels there are no 'ceilings or walls' in education, meaning students can learn inside or outside the school building without limits of intellectual growth. His attitude is shared among the wonderful teachers at Thrasher."
Over the past five years, Thrasher's PTA has been adding to the grounds of its campus with projects including a trail system, a bridge connecting the trails, and a greenhouse next to the school that also serves as an outdoor classroom. When Paulson became the school's principal this fall, he requested that the PTA continue to add more opportunities for outdoor learning.
"There is all kinds of research on the benefits of movement, getting outdoors and exploring the world around us," Paulson said. "These things enhance learning, make us healthier, increase happiness and provide a richer environment for learning than four classroom walls and screen-time alone can provide."
Outdoor classrooms have recently become a trend in education on the national and local level, with area schools including Red Bank Elementary, Lookout Mountain Elementary and Normal Park Museum Magnet School adding such options. Rivermont Elementary plans to add an outdoor classroom in the future, and local charter school Ivy Academy's entire curriculum is focused on outdoor learning at its Soddy-Daisy campus.
Unlike Thrasher's existing outdoor classroom, the new structure is located in the woods, away from the school building and surrounded by trees. The area was already being used for outdoor learning, but was hard to keep clean of debris and protected from the weather, said Fookes.
The funds for the new structure came from TVA employees through Charley Spencer, a TVA employee and longtime supporter of Signal Mountain schools. For his Eagle Scout project, Boy Scout Alex Moore built new benches for the classroom to replace the split logs which previously served as seating before the pavilion was built.
"Thrasher is grateful to the donors, volunteers, Alex Moore and Charley Spencer for this augmentation to the campus," said Fookes.