Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

A newsletter for faculty, staff and students

September-October 2005 • Vol. 31, No. 5

Bio/Ag Engineering students develop learning environment at Leverett School

A new Courtyard Outdoor Learning Environment at Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville developed by senior design students of Drs. Marty Matlock and Tom Costello, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, was dedicated Sept. 27. Students who worked on the project are Kyle Kruger, Amanda McAlister and Kati Merriman.

Work on the project began last spring. Leverett teachers collaborated with the design team on several occasions to insure that the outdoor learning project would meet and enhance the science curriculum expectations of the Fayetteville Public Schools.

The theme of the project is “The Power of Water.” Learning opportunities are provided from three perspectives: mechanical power, shaping landscapes, and giving life.  Rain water is captured in the courtyard in two 1,000-gallon rain barrels from the Leverett roof top and piped to a tiled raceway.  A water wheel was installed in the upper raceway to demonstrate mechanical power conversion to generate electricity.

In addition, students can measure the velocity and quantity of flow in the raceway. Water discharges from the raceway to a small natural stream. The natural stream shows students how water forms channels on its own, thus shaping the landscape. Students also observe the effects of erosion on the soil with a rainfall simulator and sediment runoff trays, where students place various materials under rainfall conditions and measure what comes off of the trays.

The power of water for giving life is demonstrated in several box planters with clear Plexiglas sides on two ends. Planters were designed with the clear sides so students can observe the growth and development of roots as plants grow.  The use of irrigation, including drip and sprinkler applications, is demonstrated. These components of the outdoor learning environment are integrated through exploration of what humans do on the landscape and what we can do to better manage water. 

This project was a partnership between the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Biological and Agricultural Engineering senior design team, the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Leverett Elementary School, and the U.S. EPA.