Last week, the Grade 3 class at Carman Elementary School had a blast getting their hands dirty and planting in the school’s raised beds.
Shari Zacharias is the Grade 3 teacher at Carman Elementary School, and she notes that her students added compost to the soil, worked it in, and then planted bulbs that should come up in the spring. They also experimented with carrot seeds to see if they would germinate in spring.
“We were planting flower bulbs, carrots and garlic in the planter at the front of the school,” said Zacharias. “This was initiated by Barb Lepp, who represents Carman’s Communities in Bloom group. She brought fertilizer and shovels, and there was a great discussion about what to do with this planter. We are keeping a journal of what was planted and of what will come up in the springtime. Then Barb will return in the spring, and we will fill in the spaces with other flowers and plants.”
This hands-on experience also provided students a math lesson as they measured the rectangular beds themselves. In the spring, they will start seeds in class to be transplanted to the raised beds at an appropriate time.
“Grade 3 science has a unit about Plants and Soils, so this is a wonderful learning experience, and the students had a great time planting the beds,” said Zacharias.
