A few years ago, Indiana joined a list of states requiring environmental studies for all students.

It began as part of the science curriculum from kindergarten through senior high. Now it’s expanded into social studies.

"We have several 4th grade groups that are currently working at building an outdoor learning laboratory in several of our schools and in particular those students are working on reducing, reusing and recycling our precious resources,” science coordinator, Gail Artis says.

One way of doing that is to establish outdoor living labs like this one at an elementary school. It's a good way to get the kids attention and being outdoors doing something fun is a great way to package a lesson.

“Children love to learn about nature because that’s part of their life… and they enjoy learning and knowing different things… and as they’re growing up they see all the changes and things in nature and hopefully it will be an experience that they will take all through their lives,” 4th grade teacher,” Diana Zwerner says.

The outdoor labs let kids learn about plants and trees first hand.

It’s an effective way of demonstrating just how important they are to the environment.

Of course, what’s a tree without a bird? The labs are great places to study animals as well. At the end of the day the kids hopefully learn to become better stewards of the environment.

"Our 2nd grade teachers and our writing co-teachers work with students to learn more about simple things that they can do every day like picking up trash and just helping to preserve our natural resources,” Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Karen Goeller says.

The Indiana curriculum extends into high school.

The older kids learn about natural resources, population issues and environmental hazards.

Each school in the district you just saw takes things one step further. They all create community-based drives to reduce, reuse and recycle.