Suncoast Credit Union

The goal of this grant is to give our middle grade students the opportunity to harvest and maintain a Florida indigenous plant garden with an emphasis on plants' interactions within numerous cycles: growth, reproduction, carbon and nitrogen. In addition and no less important, gardening positively impacts mood and psychological wellbeing as well as beautifying our campus and providing areas of natural respite.

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Growing Goodness at OMS

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School:
Oakridge Middle 
Subject:
Science 
Teacher:
April Jaycox- Varga  
Students Impacted:
125 
Grade:
6-8 
Date:
August 28, 2022

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Support Education Specialty License Plate - $420.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 150

Our initial goal of this grant was to give our middle grade students the opportunity to plant and maintain a Florida indigenous plant garden, emphasizing plants' interactions within our environment. I also wanted to provide students a respite from school stress and the opportunity to experience the true joy of gardening! And on both fronts, the funds from this grant overdelivered!

The OMS 6th Grade Garden was planted around the bus loop of the school, outside of my classroom. This enabled students in my classroom many opportunities to work in the garden throughout the school year. Our grant was executed alongside another grant for a vertical garden, and we ended up combining the two ideas for a truly remarkable result. In addition to weather tolerant plants, we planted fruits and vegetables to learn sustainability skills. My students first researched various plants, including their adaptations to our planting zone 10, such as sun tolerance, water needs and life cycle. This research took place during our weather and climate unit and was a nice enhancement of their learning. 

We planned our layout and then got ‘down and dirty’ and planted our garden. The students honed numerous skills needed to make group work successful: collaboration, communication, and diligence. They understood that their work was a part of the system and took care to complete each job with extreme care. As we tore up existing dying vegetation, the students made amazing connections between water and unique root systems. Once planted, the research continued, as various plants needed adjustments of sun, water, protection, etc...In the beginning each student adopted their own plant to care for. But by the end of the year, it had morphed into a true community garden, with harvest going home with students to enjoy as well as passed along to our school community!

 

As the garden grew, we monitored weather, plant growth, pests, weeds (invasive plants and predators: squirrels and birds loved our garden as well- hence a scarecrow), which ended up with countless learning opportunities for students around the school! We also learned that the position of the garden in proximity to sunlight and water is extremely important (and we will be relocating our plants to a larger, sunnier area in the last week of school). The weather this year and lack of precipitation was an invaluable way to emphasize the importance of water to life on Earth and even our changing climate here in FL. Many students used their lunch periods to come work in the classroom and a small group are starting a compost program. They learned nutrient soil is very important and can be "made" through the compost process. 

 

About 20 students have taken a leadership role in the garden and plan to continue over the summer and next year, as we bring back the gardening club to OMS!

This project surpassed my expectations and I hope to add to the garden each and every year!


Thank you for your support!

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Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal of this grant is to give our middle grade students the opportunity to harvest and maintain a Florida indigenous plant garden with an emphasis on plants' interactions within numerous cycles: growth, reproduction, carbon and nitrogen. In addition and no less important, gardening positively impacts mood and psychological wellbeing as well as beautifying our campus and providing areas of natural respite. 

 

What will be done with my students

Students will study the importance of plants to humans and just about all other life on Earth is absolute: Plants supply food, maintain the atmosphere (production of oxygen and absorption of carbon dioxide), recycle matter in biogeochemical cycles and create habitats for many organisms. They will then research Florida plants to utilize and use hands-on, mathematical skills for plotting our square footage and soil volume for the garden. Students will then plant the garden using their newfound knowledge.  

 

Benefits to my students

Students will learn through engaged and hands-on activity as well as research skills. In addition, this project will improve overall mood and well-being as well as give the students an opportunity to be active participants in beautifying their school.  

 

Budget Narrative

The price of this will include a garden tool set, topsoil, border and plants/seeds.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 Nature Spring Garden Tool Set- Folding Stool with 250lb Capacity, Detachable 7 Pocket Bag for Organizing and 5 Gardening Tools by Nature Spring $35.00
2 Plant/Seed Budget $250.00
3 Lowe's Topsoil/Gardening Soil $75.00
4 Garden Border $60.00
  Total: $420.00

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union