Our Backyard, Episode 13: ‘Under the Sky’

We invite you to meet the winners of the ‘Our Backyard’ competition. As part of the series, we will present the 13 best projects from Poland and Ukraine. Each one includes an original description of the work carried out and photographic or/and film documentation.

We are looking forward to a full blossoming of projects, but for now, we invite you to read on!

🌻 ‘Under the Sky’ project

Submitted by: Olha Sapozhnik
School: General Education School in Lanivtsi, grades I–III
Participants: pupils from VIII class, age 12–14, Tetiana Yablonska, Alina Stadniychuk, Daryna Sichevska, Alina Okhnivska

Author’s description of the project:

Our schoolyard is much more than the space between school buildings—it is where our school community comes together. The ‘Under the Open Sky’ project aims to create a comfortable, modern, and emotionally engaging outdoor area for relaxation and learning for students, teachers, and school visitors.

We want to transform the schoolyard into a place where people enjoy spending their breaks, talking, reading, working on projects, and drawing inspiration from nature. Creating a comfortable outdoor space for lessons and creative activities is an investment in students’ health and development.

Project Goal

Our goal is to create a functional outdoor space for learning and relaxation, improve the appearance of the schoolyard, promote environmentally responsible thinking and care for nature, and enhance students’ comfort and well-being.

Project Plan:

🔹create a seating area using wooden pallets with cushions or wooden platforms with benches and soft cushions;
🔹install tables for reading and board games;
🔹create green corners with plants to provide a pleasant, natural environment;
🔹lay a decorative stone pathway;
🔹organise the planting of shrubs and flowers;
🔹arrange for the school’s environmental club to maintain the green areas.

🧑‍🌾 What work did we carry out as part of the project?

1/ Selected a quiet, shaded location in the schoolyard.
2/ Developed a design concept together with the students.
3/ Carried out site improvement work, including:
🔹cleaning the area and restoring the benches;
🔹building bird feeders;
🔹installing a student-designed information board.

The expected outcomes of the project include the creation of a modern, comfortable, and attractive school environment, increased motivation for students to spend time outdoors, greater environmental awareness and ecological responsibility, and a stronger school community through collaborative work on the project.

👉 Be sure to see the photos and the video from the project implementation.