Vision

The grade 7/8 class was inspired to create a pollinator garden to help sustain the pollinators in our area. Their vision was to educate the school community about the need to sustain the local wildlife through the planting of native species. Their goal was to create a couple of small flower gardens that all of the students in the school could enjoy but gardens that would also have a purpose. They wanted to use only native plants to support the local wildlife in the area, such as bees and hummingbirds. They knew that this was a great way to combat climate change as native species capture more carbon and are more long-lived than non-native plants.

Action

Groups of students created mini lessons to inform the other students in the school about how endangered the bees are. They included in their presentations fun facts about bees and some different ways we can help the bees in our daily lives. They concluded the presentation with a vote. The students in each class voted for what native flower they wanted their grade to plant in the pollinator garden. After they counted the votes, the grade 7/8’s walked to a local greenhouse, and we purchased what plants we could from the greenhouse. The following week I purchased wood from a local store and had the students put together flower beds themselves using drills and sanded them down using a sander. The students got a valuable life lesson, some of them were just using a power tool for the first time and others who had used them taught the others. They really enjoyed the experience. They then used a wheelbarrow to transport dirt from the backfield of the school to the garden beds in the front yard. The students filled the flower beds and planted their plants. They were very dirty but very happy by the end of that lesson.

Reflection & Celebration

The students loved what they created and were so proud of what they accomplished and I would love to continue teaching the students around the school about the importance of gardening with a purpose. I plan to continue the planting of purposeful gardens next year, maybe creating a Three Sisters garden, sensory or vegetable garden for our students to enjoy in the coming years.

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