GreenVET pathway

Outdoor learning lab in a schoolyard

Outdoor Learning Lab for Sustainability

Located in the school courtyard, Un Orto di Nome Eva (A Garden Named Eva) is an open-air, modular learning lab featuring seven transformable stations. This hands-on space allows students to explore sustainable agriculture, composting, and plant science, fostering environmental awareness through real-world, interactive learning experiences.

Key People and Partners Involved

• School management
• Design and architecture firm
• Teachers and students

Description of the practice

This initiative transformed an underutilized courtyard at Istituto Comprensivo 2 in Sora into an open-air, reconfigurable laboratory. Designed by NINE Associati and OFL Architecture under the PON Edugreen program, the space comprises seven interactive, modular areas where students can learn by doing"covering topics from composting and soil-free plant growth to pollination and plant reproduction.

Each of the seven modules addresses a specific ecological or agricultural concept"such as sowing, plant germination, irrigation, composting, pollination, and data monitoring. Students interact with physical elements like an ant farm for pollination, an insect feeder, and mobile planting modules, fostering hands-on understanding of natural processes and sustainability.

The modules are designed to be portable and adaptable, enabling relocation within the school buildings or into public spaces for community outreach. This flexibility encourages interdisciplinary learning, community engagement, and makes sustainability education a visible, lived part of school and local environments.

Where it’s being implemented

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• The installation is already implemented at Istituto Comprensivo 2 in Sora as part of the PON Edugreen initiative, bringing hands-on sustainability education to life. Find more information and pictures about the initiative here:
  https://divisare.com/projects/485814-ofl-architecture-francesco-lipari-nine-associati-paolo-emilio-bellisario-emilia-caffo-matteo-di-sora-michele-boccia-un-orto-di-nome-eva

Impact and Results

• Activation of unused space as a dynamic learning space
• Enhanced student understanding of ecological and agricultural systems
• Increased engagement through tactile and experiential learning
• Reinforced school-community interaction via public outreach and display.
• Scalable model for integrating sustainability into school design

Implementation Tips and Insights

• Design modules to be portable for versatility across settings.
• Cover a full lifecycle of sustainability topics"from compost to pollination.
• Incorporate sensory elements like ant farms or insect feeders to spark curiosity.
• Consider partnerships with design students or local creatives to enhance functionality, aesthetics, and interdisciplinary learning.