We are starting a unit for project based learning and our focus question is: How do we as kindergarteners impact the environment and the lives of animals of our Washington D.C. community? This will serve our community by showing kids that their actions have positive and negative consequences for the environment.
We will be cultivating garden beds at our school. Students will learn that plants and animals have needs and often times those needs benefit each other. They will also understand that humans have the ability to support plant and animal survival by taking care of the environment. During our garden project, we will learn about how pollinators help plants, how compost benefits worms and the soil, how plants and animals benefit from all of these things and how they all work together. Students will be engaged in the project by helping weed and prepare the soil for planting, planting and maintaining the garden beds, collecting compost to be used in the garden bed which will feed worms in the soil.
Our Roots & Shoots grant project focused on exploring the roles of pollinators and decomposers in our local ecosystem. Through hands-on activities in our school garden, students learned how these organisms support a healthy environment. We studied habitats for pollinators and decomposers and investigated the ways worms help compost organic matter. Students engaged in outdoor learning by locating decomposers in the soil, preparing garden beds, and planting both native plants and vegetables. The native plants were chosen specifically to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity right on our school grounds.
Students learned how these organisms support a healthy environment. We studied habitats for pollinators and decomposers and investigated the ways worms help compost organic matter. Students engaged in outdoor learning by locating decomposers in the soil, preparing garden beds, and planting both native plants and vegetables. The native plants were chosen specifically to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity right on our school grounds.
Look for more parent support to encourage them to do the work with their kids.
All of the time spent in the garden with the kids. It was amazing hearing how excited they were when they saw pollinators and decomposers.
It was great to have the support of my school administration. It defiantly made for a more successful project.
