Our Green Cool School – Erich-Kästner-Gymnasium
Project days focusing on the sustainable school grounds of the future, including the construction of a triangle pergola as a cool chill-out area at the Erich-Kästner-Gymnasium in Cologne, in collaboration with the University of Cologne.
As part of the school project days ‘The Sustainable School Grounds’, pupils from the Erich-Kästner-Gymnasium (EKG) worked alongside teacher training students from the University of Cologne to reimagine their school grounds – taking an interdisciplinary, practical approach clearly guided by ESD principles. The project days and learning content were developed, planned and implemented by the Institute of Biology Education at the University of Cologne as part of the EU education project Green Cool Schools GROW Europe.
Starting with the question of how our school can become more climate-resilient, the pupils first set out to investigate the impact of plants: the aim is to demonstrate to the pupils the effects of climate change on urban spaces and their inhabitants, and to highlight the positive effects – and thus the potential – of urban greenery, using green facades as an example of a measure adapted to climate change.
The focus was on experiments in which the pupils themselves used sensors to investigate the characteristics of plants: the effects of CO₂, temperature, shading, transpiration and evaporative cooling. As a result, the pupils discussed the potential of urban greenery to mitigate urban heat stress.
During the subsequent implementation phase, the pupils mapped the current state of the school grounds and assessed the risk of heavy rainfall, the degree of soil sealing, and potential areas for greening and biodiversity. Through a following role-playing exercise, the pupils learnt about planning regulations, landscape architectural design elements, and the needs and requirements of various user groups, and consolidated their findings into a vivid model of their ‘green, cool school of the future’. The project days gave participants a real sense of self-efficacy, encouraged their involvement and provided practical insights into STEM careers, ranging from research to landscaping and construction planning.
From model to plan to reality: a triangle pergola as a cool, green chill-out area!
After the project days, a total of 36 student volunteers, together with teachers and partners, put a planning idea into practice: building a shaded triangle pergola to serve as a cool, green relaxation area in the school playground. The design is based on building guidelines from Green Cool Schools, which were tested and refined here at the EKG. Taking measurements, sawing, drilling, screwing – step by step, a sturdy, inviting spot to hang out took shape, providing cooling shade, bringing more greenery to the school playground and promoting biodiversity. This makes break times more pleasant and the microclimate is noticeably better.
The Triangle Pergola demonstrates how scientific measurements, creative planning and hands-on work can generate tangible benefits for the school and the local community – a visible contribution to climate resilience and sustainable school development, co-designed by the pupils and something they can experience every day.