The Many Benefits of Green Roofs as Outdoor Classrooms

Between school, homework, family responsibilities, phones, TV and video games the average child is spending less than ten minutes of unstructured playtime outdoors per day and spending more than seven hours in front of a screen (NRPA). Children need significantly more time outside than adults in order to support healthy mental and physical development, and those who do spend more time outside are found to be happier as adults.

Recent studies recommend that children spend four to six hours outside per day and yet most children are not getting that amount in an entire week (ACH News). Getting the recommended amount of outside playtime can be especially hard for children living in low-income families, many of whom lack resources to put kids through extracurricular activities.

COVID19 closed schools and playgrounds so without mandated recess each day, children spent even less time outside during the lockdown and more time in front of screens (CTV News). When schools reopen, there will be measures in place to encourage physical distancing but many teachers and parents are worried. Classrooms are confined spaces and children, especially younger children, cannot be expected not to share their food, trade toys or wash their hands properly after using the bathroom, not to mention sitting far enough away from their friends. 

One politician has been thinking about a solution to these challenges. The Public School Green Rooftop Program (H.R.1863), sponsored by Congresswoman Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), would allocate $500 million in federal funding to support the installation and maintenance of green roofs on K-12 public schools in underserved neighborhoods across the U.S. Congresswoman Velázquez says that “there is no better place to begin teaching our children about conservation than our public schools. However, their education does not need to be confined to the classroom.  These roofs allow students to directly engage with sustainable practices and see for themselves the impact that environmentally conscious initiatives can have on their hometowns and neighborhoods.  By exposing them to these ideas early on in their education, we forge a path to a cleaner, healthier community.”

Fortunately, school green roofs are a proven concept with impressive benefits. In March 2010, P.S.41, a public school in New York, opened the Green Roof Environmental Literacy Laboratory (GELL). The 15,000 square foot sedum and native plant green roof is the first of its kind in a New York City public school.  The outdoor learning space benefits children from all grade levels who take part in various activities from skyline drawings to insect research projects. 

For the full story, please click here.