Suncoast Credit Union

My goal is to build Growth Mindset qualities by having students work together to nurture three themed gardens. Students will also use research skills to plan which plants are needed in the themed gardens to grow and thrive.

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Growing Dirt-Termination

School:
Laurel Oak Elementary 
Subject:
Science 
Teacher:
Laura Kerlek 
Students Impacted:
22 
Grade:
K-5 
Date:
August 12, 2021

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

FL License For Learning License Plate Fund - $1,015.69

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 21

Students worked in 3 garden groups to research what type of plants would grow in our climate. We created a Butterfly Garden, Desert Garden and Veggie Garden.

 

Once the plants and soil arrived, I worked with each garden teaching them how to plant the seedlings. The students totally took ownership of their gardens. They would weed and water them in the mornings without me prompting them.

 

The veggie garden became quite popular with the teachers. The teachers loved the fresh basil and cilantro. Teachers would send zip baggies to my class requesting the herbs. The students would go out to the garden and snip the basil and cilantro and deliver it to the teachers! We have now planted sunflowers in the veggie garden and the students are so excited to see the giant flowers in bloom by the end of the year!

 

The butterfly garden is also a school favorite! We literally have 40-50 caterpillars in the garden and watching the chrysalises emerge has been a learning lesson for many other classes. We have a true cycle of butterflies-caterpillars-chrysalis-butterfly constantly thriving in our garden!

 

The Desert Garden is beyond gorgeous and many classes often sit around the garden on a nice day and read!

 

This project has taught my students to be responsible and respect nature.

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Veggie Garden

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Butterfly Garden

 

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Desert Garden

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Desert Garden

 

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Veggie Garden

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Butterfly Garden

 

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This is how the gardens began

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

My goal is to build Growth Mindset qualities by having students work together to nurture three themed gardens. Students will also use research skills to plan which plants are needed in the themed gardens to grow and thrive. 

 

What will be done with my students

There are currently 3 dilapidated raised beds gardens located outside the classroom. We are going to take these gardens and turn them into three unique beautiful gardens that the school community can enjoy, discover and learn from.
Garden 1 is going to be transformed into a butterfly garden where students can actually watch caterpillars transform into butterflies who lay eggs and begin the life cycle again!
Garden 2 is going to be used to grow unique desert plants that students can use to learn about the unique environment of the desert which is so dramatically different than our Florida environments.
Garden 3 is going to be our Edible garden where we plant herbs and vegetables. Students will get to experience planting something, watching it grow and being able to eat it!  

 

Benefits to my students

Students will learn to work together as a team to produce three unique themed gardens for the school population to enjoy. The butterfly garden will teach students to care for living things as well as actually see the cycle of a butterfly's life. The desert garden will teach students to not only care for plants but learn and understand a unique plant life environment. Lastly, the Edible garden will show students that hard work, planning, patience and determination will yield fun vegetables and herbs to enjoy and share with their families and teachers in the school.
I also feel that by nurturing 3 different types of gardens students will be able to show their individual interests and having 3 gardens allows students more time doing and less time watching. They will have more hands on opportunities because we are working in 3 gardens! Students will also need to use research skills to decide which plants will grow the best in the unique gardens. 

 

Budget Narrative

There are 3 raised beds gardens that will need soil, plants and supplies to thrive. The gardens are currently there...they just need a group of eager students to make them come alive! 

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 Raised Bed Garden Soil $128.00
2 Black Mulch $12.00
3 Cactus Soil $79.55
4 Rocks $250.00
5 Cactus/Succulents $199.00
6 Trowels $65.00
7 Hose/Carrier $59.00
8 Starter Vegetable plants $50.00
9 Starter Butterfly GardenPlants $120.00
10 5 gallon buckets and Storage pouch $37.00
11 Watering cans $16.14
  Total: $1,015.69

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Suncoast Credit Union