Outdoor Classroom Glossary

acre
a measure of land, equal to 43,560 square feet. An acre of land square in shape would measure approximately 208 feet on a side.
base map
a diagram of the school grounds showing existing features such as topography, drainage patterns,bodies of water, vegetation. and buildings.
brush pile
a small stack of cut branches, shrubs, and other woody vegetation which serves as protective cover for small wild animals.
community
a group of interacting populations living within a geographic group.
compost
a mixture of organic residues (e. g., leaves, grasses, weeds) and soil that have been piled and allowed to undergo biological decomposition until relatively stable.
conservation
the wise use of natural resources.
conservation education
those activities and experiences that result in learning about human dependency upon, and use (or abuse) of, natural resources for all of our necessities, needs, and wants.
cover
vegetation or other material used by wild animals for nesting, rearing of young, resting, escape from predators, or protection from adverse weather conditions.
drainage patterns
the various sloping of the land which drain surface runoff of rainwater by gravity into a ditch,stream, or pond.
ecology
the study of the interrelationships among organisms and their environment.
emergent plants
plants such as cattails rooted in shallow water with the leafy parts extending above the surface.
environment
the sum total of all the external conditions that may act upon an organism or community to influence its development or existence.erosion the movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
geologic formations
limestone, sandstone, and other rock and mineral outcroppings and boulders as well as larger formations such as hills and mountains.
geology
the science that deals with the origin and structure of the earth especially as shown by rocks and rock formations.
hectare
a surface measure, the common unit of land measure in the metric system, equal to 10,000 square meters (2.471 acres).
marsh
a periodically wet, or continually flooded, area where the water is shallow throughout; it is typically covered with sedges, cattails, rushes, or other water-loving plants.
master plan
as intended here, a map of the school grounds showing existing features and features to beaded to the outdoor classroom site.
millet
a grass cultivated in the United States for forage and in many parts of the Old World for its small edible seeds.
milo
a cereal grass utilized by wild animals and having leaves similar to corn; its grain is contained in a seed head growing at the top of the plant.
natural resources
the air, land, soil, water, plants, animals, minerals and sources of energy on which humans depend for their needs, necessities, and wants.
outdoor classroom
as intended here, the school grounds when used to introduce and reinforce all curricular studies.
plant succession
a predictable series of vegetative changes caused by each successive type of plant producing shade and moisture conditions which are less favorable to the preceding type. The final (climax)stage produces conditions in a permanent, stable community.
plot
as intended here, a parcel of land marked off or developed for purposes of demonstration and study (e.g., plant succession plot, wildlife food plot, native grasses plot).
pond
a natural or man-made depression, smaller that a lake, filled with water; so shallow that light penetrates to the bottom throughout its depth.
population
a group of interbreeding organisms of the same species in a given geographic area.
prairie
a tract of level to hilly land that has a predominance of grasses and small broad leaved plants, a scarcity of shrubs, and is nearly treeless.
shrub
a woody perennial plant differing from a tree by its low stature and having multiple permanent stems branching from or near the ground.
soil
the mineral and organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of plants.
soil horizons
distinctive layers found in a vertical cross section of any well-developed soil.
soil profile
a vertical cross section of a soil from the surface through all its horizons.
soil types
soils differing in characteristics such as color, structure, texture, consistency, degree of acidity or alkalinity, percentages of sand, silt and clay, etc.
species
(both singular and plural) a natural population or group of populations that are reproductively isolated and transmit specific characteristics from parent to offspring.
switchbacks
as intended here, hairpin turns in a trail which allow the trail to wind gently up a slope thus avoiding steep climbs and reducing the chance for soil erosion.
terrace
an embankment, or combination of an embankment and channel, constructed across a slope to control erosion by diverting or storing surface runoff instead of permitting it to flow uninterrupted down the slope.
topography
the physical features of a surface area, including relative elevations and the position of natural and man-made features.
tree
a woody perennial plant that reaches a mature height of at least two and one-half meters (eight feet). has a well-defined stem and a definite crown shape.
watershed
the land area that drains toward a surface water system such as a lake, pond, or stream.
waterway
a natural course or constructed channel for the flow of water.
wildlife foot plot
a parcel of land panted in grain crops (such as milo, millet, and soybeans) that are left standing as winter food for wildlife.
windbreak
a living barrier of trees, or combination of trees and shrubs, designed to protect an area from hot or cold winds and drifting snow.
woodland
any land used primarily for growing trees and shrubs.

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