Third-graders utilizing greenhouse for projects
Lena Wickham and Julianna Moore, 8-year-olds in third grade at Stanton Elementary School, mix peat moss with dirt in order to grown carrots in the school’s greenhouse as part of their science project. -- Julie Stenger
Guner Frankie and Tiffany Lefever completed their soil mix and look forward to vegetables the pupils will be planting, including radishes, spinach and summer squash. -- Julie Stenger
Lena Wickham and Julianna Moore, 8-year-olds in third grade at Stanton Elementary School, mix peat moss with dirt in order to grown carrots in the school’s greenhouse as part of their science project. -- Julie Stenger
Guner Frankie and Tiffany Lefever completed their soil mix and look forward to vegetables the pupils will be planting, including radishes, spinach and summer squash. -- Julie Stenger
AMMONDSVILLE -- This school year, third-grade teacher Alicia Hartman was fortunate enough to receive the classroom which houses the building's greenhouse within Stanton Elementary School.
So, she decided to put that additional feature to good use.
The structure has been serving its purpose on and off since it was first erected several years ago, according to Principal Kodi Peterson. However, the structure has not been used in a while, it was noted.
Hartman decided to change all that. Her students have been utilizing the greenhouse since the beginning of the school year, growing various types of vegetables -- some of which have already taken form.
What's more, the children absolutely love doing the projects. They enjoy every single minute of it, in fact. The third-grade pupils look forward to class and are excited for the opportunity to grow something they had a hand in creating.
Hartman explained her ultimate hope is to grow several items and sell them to local residents in the surrounding community. With the profits, she would purchase more supplies to plant, including vegetables and fruit. She commented she would love the opportunity for the class to donate the foods to local food pantries and food banks in need.
Hartman exclaimed by utilizing the greenhouse, the children are not only able to learn science, but they can take away lessons in mathematics. When dealing with selling to the community and donating to those in need, pupils are learning about entrepreneurship, buying and selling, she noted.
The children love to inform others how they are planting their vegetables and go into great detail about the procedures.
"We are mixing peat moss and dirt so the carrots can have room to grow because they need something softer," explained 8-year-old Julianna Moore. "So, we use the peat moss to add to the dirt. My Pap has a garden and he grows peppers and pumpkins," she added.
"I grow wildflowers at my house," exclaimed Lena Wickham, 8, who said she has a "fairy garden" as well. When asked what a fairy garden was, she explained they are "tiny houses for berries."
"I have a lavender tree to at home, too,"she said.
Gunner Frankie, 9, celebrated his birthday on the day pupils were planting carrots. He and his partner, 8-year-old Tiffany Lefever, stated they really like doing this kind of work.
"We are going to do squash that looks like pumpkins after this," Lefever said.
"We are definitely putting this greenhouse to use," Hartman announced. She said the classes are planting radishes, spinach, carrots and summer squash. "Our hypothesis is that we will even out at the end of the season to see if it will work," she said.
Hartman commented she feels very fortunate and appreciative she was the one to receive the classroom with the greenhouse this year.
"I feel very privileged to have this," she concluded. "This will be a wonderful opportunity for the third-graders because I am a hands-on kind of teacher, so if I'm bored, they are bored. But they seem to really enjoy this. I am super excited."