We are working to create a more outdoor-friendly learning area at
Brookside. We recently had an outdoor classroom installed on our
school property. Now we have adopted two community garden plots from
the Kroc Center. We will use this new garden space for students to
connect to the environment and learn more about our local natural
resources. It also is helping us teach students about growing their
own food and making healthy eating choices.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship
Already students are learning the benefits to our environment that
composting and growing our own foods can provide. They are trying new,
healthy foods and recognizing how different something fresh from the
garden can taste. On our walks to the garden we have had discussions
about litter, wild animals and even poison ivy! Through those
conversations students are starting to understand the power of nature
and our responsibility to honor and keep it. Students are learning
the value of hardwork by hauling our equipment to and from the garden
as well as the work we do digging, planting and watering each day we
are there. Their confidence in themselves is growing each trip. The
garden space provides a new way to connect with Brookside parents and
the greater Garfield Park community. This space will need care even
during non-school months and parents and other community members are
stepping in to help with this care.
Partners: The Kroc Center, Grow Wise Learning,
Parent Action Leaders
Students were involved in learning about our local watershed, the
water cycle, how storm water can affect our watershed. We learned
different ways we can help to protect our watershed and learned about
why a rain garden would be beneficial at our location. Finally,
students helped plan and install the garden area!
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
My students love going to Plaster Creek and they better understand
how what we choose to do can impact that special area. I had a few
parents reach out to me at the end of the year to tell me what a
great year their children had and specifically pointed to our time
outside and learning about protecting our environment.
Partners:
Plaster Creek Stewards, Michigan Department of the Environment, Great
Lakes, and Energy, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds
Teachers:
Erin Fettig, 1st Grade, All Subjects; Danisue Klomparens, 1st Grade,
All Subjects; Renee Taylor, 2nd Grade, All Subjects; Toccara Whifield,
2nd Grade, All Subjects; Emily Nyre, 5th Grade, All Subjects; Haiden
Warmuskerken, 5th Grade, All Subjects
Students:
128
Funder:
Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
This project brought attention to the substantial problem of food
waste in our country and around the world by introducing students to
vermicomposting through a unit with cross-curricular connections in
math, ELA, science and social studies. In this unit students learned
about how worms benefit the environment, helped build a worm bin and
used scientific tools. Students learned how to minimize food waste by
utilizing worm bins in their classrooms. Students researched and
learned through books about the life of worms and how they help enrich
soil and lessen food waste.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
I’ve already witnessed my classroom caring more about how we dispose
of things. Asking if itis compostable or if they should recycle or
throw away. Brainstorming ideas for using things we might have just
thrown away. An example is using the backs of papers for things we
would not have befre.
Partners:
West Michigan Environmental Action Council, Grow Wise Learning
LLC, Kent County Department of Public Works
Teachers:
Erin Fettig, 1st Grade, All Subjects; Emily Nyre, 5th Grade, All Subjects
