PEOPLE

The people surveys are used as a planning tool to redesign the grounds. They are used to make sure that everyone's voice is heard and respected and to encourage a sense of ownership of the project.

Use the results of the people surveys to:

• show how the school and community feel about the grounds
• determine why the grounds need greening
• decide what changes are to be made
• identify what the priorities are, where the problems lie and what solutions are possible
• show how environmental and human health can be improved
• learn what skills and expertise you have to work with
• find out who in the community can help
• discover how projects can be integrated into the curriculum and what outdoor classroom projects will be useful to teachers

SITE AND SITE USE

The site and site-use surveys are used as planning tools to redesign the grounds. They are used to make sure that all areas and uses of the grounds are thoroughly investigated and recorded.

Use the results of the site and site-use surveys to:

• show why the grounds need greening
• identify places where it is possible to implement the ideas flowing from the people surveys
• determine who needs to be consulted before any changes are made
• discover what previous land uses may have an effect on proposed projects
• decide on where changes can be made to the grounds
• redesign the sports, play and social spaces school yard according to activity rather than by creating boundaries between grade levels
• identify the areas of highest priority for greening
• find out where the problems are and what solutions are possible
• teach students how to read different kinds of maps, interpret site plans, map and measure all aspects of the grounds, carry out school grounds research, record data and communicate their findings
• help define the size and location of proposed projects through mapping and measuring the entire site
• show how the various tasks associated with the site and site-use surveys can be integrated into the curriculum

BIODIVERSITY

The biodiversity survey is used to raise awareness on the need to enhance biodiversity by creating new wildlife habitat and improving the health of existing green spaces in the community. The results of the surveys when repeated both seasonally and annually will show how greening increases biodiversity and enriches local environments for humans and wildlife alike.

Use the results of the biodiversity surveys to:

• create a permanent record that people can refer to in the future of what species of plants and animals are currently found on the school grounds, including when, where and by whom they were identified
• show the importance of tracking increases in biodiversity over time
• evaluate the success of the greening project in enhancing local biodiversity
• demonstrate how the survey can be integrated into the curriculum generate interest among students in monitoring the flora and fauna that is deliberately or coincidentally attracted to the site
• educate the school and community on the value of enhancing local biodiversity
• encourage home owners and community groups to green other spaces in the neighbourhood

SHADE

The shade audit is used as a planning tool for redesigning the grounds.

Use the results of the shade audit to:

• raise awareness in the school and among the community on the health risks associated with over-exposure to the sun's harmful rays
• educate on how to shade children's play and social spaces with trees and built structures
• show how little shade there is in the schoolyard and identify the places where shade is needed on the grounds
• show the importance of tracking the increase in shade over time to demonstrate how planting shade trees improves the health of the grounds and decreases health risks
• start creating a permanent record that people can refer to in the future by conducting annual shade audits
• identify the right plants for the right sites
• encourage your school board to develop sun protection policies and write guidelines for shading outdoor school environments
• encourage your school board to change policies that require trees to be planted in rows at ten-metre intervals so that groves of trees can be planted to create larger and more-useful areas of shade
• show how measuring the amount of shade on the grounds can be integrated into the curriculum

SKILLS

The skills identification survey is used to raise awareness among the community about what your school is doing, to encourage people to participate in greening activities and to help you find out what skills and expertise are out there.

Use the results of the skills identification survey to:

• identify the skills and expertise you need for planning, implementing, publicizing, celebrating, monitoring, maintaining and using your greening projects
• raise awareness on the number of skills available in the community
• make curriculum connections through having students design the survey and create a database
• develop a list of contacts in the community
• expand your network
• target people with the skills required for carrying out specific tasks
• help you organize planting and building events

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