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School Solutions: Gardening
Posted by: Erica Taylor, Reporter
Soils and plants are part of the standard course of study for 3rd graders. Requiring a student to study silt and clay doesn’t mean they will enjoy it.
Greensboro, NC – To increase interest, one elementary school brought in a master gardener, closed the science book and took the lesson outside. “It smells woodsy. Looks like it’s getting there,” said master gardener Sarah Crawford, as she examines ongoing science projects in a 3rd grade classroom at Rankin Elementary School. Crawford shares her expertise with the students, teaching them how to cultivate worms, water plants and study soil, so they can learn how to grow a garden. It’s a lesson best learned beyond the walls of a classroom. “I wanted to build for them an outdoor classroom, where they could actually take the science they were learning and come out and actually apply it,” said Crawford. “In a book, it’s just telling you how to do it,” said 3rd grader Latwon London. “When you’re outside, you’re doing it in real life.” Given Rankin Elementary School’s urban location, for many students, this is their first time growing anything.
“They were like, a little bit unsure about the soil and everything, and when they saw bugs they would be like ‘Ew!’” said Crawford. “But now, they’re like excited.”
“It’s fun,” said 3rd grader Cameron Dixon. “Everything she makes us do is fun.”
By testing soil and planting flowers on their own, these students are growing more than a green thumb.
“Another goal was that it would widen their understanding of plants, what they tasted like, what they looked like and that they would have more interest in eating a wider variety of vegetables,” said Crawford.
“It’s fun to do it and you actually get to do it in real life,” said 3rd grader Jakera Blackwell.
“Their excitement has really blessed me so much, and I hope they will carry this for their whole life,” said Crawford.
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Source: WFMY News 2
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