Brookside Elementary
Project Description
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
Teachers:
Erin Fettig, K/1, ELA/Science
Students:
23
Funder:
The Wege Foundation
Showcase Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g77q4bCgh5k
Project Description:
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)
Showcase Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN2B9l4OkQM&list=PLV2DqaYFEsPwEUUHkVf4EWeARMMgZa9NL&index=4&ab_channel=GroundswellMichigan
Project Description:
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
Students:
43
Funder:
Wege Foundation
Showcase Video: (Found on YouTube page)