My garden is my point of relaxation soI took the idea into my classroom. We're wrapping up required science ideas, so I absconded with some grow lights a teacher wasn't using, and keyed into what my SS/ELA partner was teaching - the Great Depression and WWII.. Hmmmmm.... I thought to myself, that sounds like Self-Sufficiency and Victory Garden time. I've brought in window boxes, and soil, seeds, and ready-to-go plants. My students are FASCINATED. Today, they SAW BROCCOLI. You would have thought Hannah Montana herself was in my room herself from all of the excitement about a teeny tiny thing that looked like real broccoli. I think I answered the question, "You mean I can EAT this? Just pick it and eat it?" about 50 times. The lettuce I brought it seems to be headed for a quick demise because both of my classes (every single child in them) think they are the only ones tearing off a tiny piece to eat - surely that won't affect the plant - right? My aloe plant had to return to my house because it's poor leaves had a rash of the same thing happen, and now it struggles to regrow. The poor Lithops (my students call them butt plants) were killed by the same curiousity - they would pull the plant up (including the roots) and ask, "Are you SURE this is a plant? Looks like a butt." Thankfully we are growing so many things they are excited about I think something should survive. Essentially we are growing a salad garden - because most of this can be harvested before they go home for summer - at least once - lettuce, onions, and broccoli. Each child also has two containers - one each of beans and lettuce they have planted from seed. They can't wait to see their own bean and lettuce plants sprout next week - if they keep their fingers out of the soil.
2 comments:
Wow, you are an awesome teacher! What grade do you teach? That sounds like such fun for the kids, I loved hearing their reactions. I hope some plants make it so they can see the fruits of their labors! Did the vinegar work on those red ants of yours? Hang in there school is almost out for the summer!
Love, Megan
Yes, between vinegar and hot water we no longer have ants... of course I didn't discover that until I bought organic ant killer, but I'm glad I didn't have to use it.
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