Chigwell Reinvented: a Gurgling, Chirping, Gleeful Discovery Garden

Chigwell reinvented: a gurgling, chirping, gleeful discovery garden by Connie Langland irst graders School teachers quickly convinced me across Chigwell, disappearing into a sketching of the value of the outside classroom 1,500 gallon tank buried near the flagstone to serve as a discovery garden for our Lower School building. The stream is Fpathways and two students,” Ford said. “Once the water manmade, and the captured water spiraling mazes. Little element was added to the design, my recycles constantly through the use girls caught up in excitement rose — I fondly remember of an electrical pump. The stream their own game of playing in the creek during my own flows within a curving border of queen for the day. Students and staff elementary school days.” Wissahickon mica schist, the same all atwitter upon learning that a The space will retain its historic rock used in construction of many possum may have taken up residence. name; the commons was named for campus buildings. In recent weeks, Chigwell Close — Chigwell School, in the county of Before the renovation, the space the open space nestled between the Essex, England, where William Penn was defined by a few trees, and a Lower School and main building — has studied in his youth. That school’s raised-bed garden of vegetables, herbs taken on new life as an outdoor motto is “find a way or make a way” and flowers. On occasion, one classroom and play area where students — a sentiment appropriate to the secluded spot or another had become can actively explore a small plot of the exploration possibilities inherent in the an ersatz burial ground for small fish natural world, or find the solitude to upgraded Chigwell Close. and hermit crabs that had expired in read a book or write an essay. Ford envisions the space “as an the kindergarten rooms, according to And a 90-foot stream runs through it. outdoor square — like the squares McGuire. The lawn, said Peake, had a “We knew we wanted an interactive Penn designed for the city of rather “dilapidated” look to it. water feature, and the stream is meant Philadelphia — where students from Last spring, students and teachers for kids to walk in, to float a boat, or across divisions will gather, exchange labored to relocate the garden beds to to sit next to and reflect on whatever is ideas, and benefit from the discourse the other side of Chigwell, and on their mind,” said Steven Wade, which is certain to occur.” seedlings sprouted in classrooms in Lower School science teacher, who To design the space, the school the spring grew up over the summer with Candy McGuire, kindergarten tapped Edwin Peake, owner of to create a tangle of tomato vines and teacher, co-clerked the committee Edwin’s Glorious Gardens in Glenside, vivid zinnias to admire once school planning of the space. who created a stone-strewn stream opened in September. PC values the The project had the backing of that, at its start, pours forth across a local foods movement, and the garden Head of School Darryl J. Ford. “Lower low waterfall and then runs diagonally is a reminder of that. continued on next page Fall 2010 The Magazine of William Penn Charter School Page 2 Captured water pours across a low waterfall, runs through the man-made stream, and recycles through a buried 1,500-gallon tank. Chigwell reinvented: a gurgling, chirping, gleeful discovery garden Urban-friendly wildlife has already arrived — a possum was discovered in a trash can and scurried behind several composters once it was rescued. There’s at least one chipmunk making itself at home, and a squirrel was spotted nibbling on an orange rind retrieved from composting refuse. “Water is going to attract critters, and the plantings are going to attract birds, butterflies and insects,” said Wade. Chigwell certainly is open to all grades, but it is fast becoming a special place for the youngest set. First graders, for example, have already interviewed Peake and begun to write about and sketch the development of the space for a book they plan to publish later in the year. And with its gurgling waterfall, chirping birds and free-form design, the space offers a distinct contrast to the hubbub of the Lower School playground. For Lower School teachers, the new outdoor classroom offers numerous opportunities to meld the curriculum with the laboratory of the great outdoors. Penn Charter students have long studied the environment and ecology, learning about their impact on their surroundings, and analyzing the health or pollution of nearby woods and streams. The school’s curricula are aligned with nationally recognized science standards. Wade said the Lower School takes a “constructivist approach” to science learning. “We do less telling of lots of facts and more hands-on learning about how to do science, modeling the scientific process,” he said. Upper School students are working to raise funds for benches so older students can relax in Chigwell, too. The Lower School science curriculum focuses on the scientific Peake picked plantings that would outside the kindergarten classrooms – thinking process. Students, including attract birds, butterflies and other at a cost of about $6,000. Upper pre-kindergarteners, are encouraged to insects and “that would draw year- School student government leaders develop observational skills as well as round interest — spring, summer, fall currently are working to raise funds to learn to ask questions, conduct — the whole spectrum,” he said. for benches so older students can investigations, use scientific tools and Chigwell’s two expansive cherry relax in the space. Other goals such as techniques, and analyze and trees still stand, providing shade in an solar energy to power the water communicate their findings. otherwise sunny space. But the big system and even irrigate the entire Each grade studies multiple science ginko is gone except for several of its space await future funding. themes, some of which can be larger limbs, which now serve to edge The space now offers opportunities examined in the Chigwell environs. a children’s sandbox. to learn about how a local habitat can Students in kindergarten learn The school has spent about be nurtured and sustained, about about tree homes (and more); first $45,000 on the project. One feature storm water management, and about graders study pebbles, sand and silt; remains to be built — a small native birds, insects and wildlife, second graders do weather and amphitheater, including a stage, just Peake noted. seasons; third graders explore Fall 2010 The Magazine of William Penn Charter School Page 4 schoolyard ecology; fourth graders look at scale and structure; and fifth graders construct intricate terrariums. Students enjoy several popular field “We do less telling of trips, and fourth graders go camping in Montgomery County. lots of facts and more First grade teachers Mary Schilling and Lisa Katharina Messer have taken hands-on learning full advantage of the new space, encouraging their students to hone about how to do interviewing, observational and note- taking skills. Their observations — they science.” used inventive spelling but we won’t here — include these: Colin: Edwin is putting the rocks in place, and he is working in the hot sun. Dylan: I like the river because I like to senses in a unit called “All About Me.” Olivia: I liked playing queen with my race leaves. They also study the life cycle of plants friends. Chigwell’s “river” is just about three and learn about the properties of Nate: My favorite part is when we race inches deep. water. And of course they raise funds in the river. For kindergarteners, the outdoor by growing worms to be sold on Earth Noah: I liked to race in the river with space expands opportunities for Day. In short, there’s been a sharp leaves. exploration, said teacher Candy McGuire, focus on learning about the natural Sharon: There was a tank. They got who also praised the cooperative world in kindergarten classes. the water from the spigot; planning of the outdoor space as a fine The new outdoor classroom, said they have the water for the example of the Quaker process. McGuire, “is rich with knowledge for stream. Kindergarteners learn about the five these children to gather.” PC The discovery garden quickly attracted birds, insects and young explorers, including these curious first graders. Fall 2010 The Magazine of William Penn Charter School Page 5.

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