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"Make and Take." Our Passion for Ferns....A Holiday Treat

School:: Heritage Middle School
Subject:: Other
Teacher:: Lisa Gaboury
Students Impacted:: 140
Grade:: 6-8
Date:: September 7, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Anonymous Family Foundation - $1,000.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 200

This project was a success as always! We began preparing by doing a landscape project where the students designed a tree using the elements of landscaping and floral design. I then purchased the ferns, oasis and bowls from Fern Trust. I went to Seville to pick everything up and delivered it to our school.

Students had a blast designing a floral arrangement using fresh pine, ferns, magnolia leaves and candy canes. They began with an empty bowl and blank oasis and began their design from there. We had extra greenery, so I invited the ESE classes to come and participate and make an arrangement with us as well.

We did this the week before holiday break and it was a big hit!

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Finished project

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working on the flower arrangements

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all the wonderful greenery

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Pre- flower arrangement- Landscape

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The finished product

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Invited our ESE class to participate

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal of this grant is for students in the Agriculture Classes, 6-8 and also FFA members to be able to make and take home a floral arrangement, made with fresh ferns and greenery from Fern Trust in Seville.

What will be done with my students

Each student will be given either an oasis or vase, along with live varieties of fern and greenery. After having taught a lesson on floral design, the students will then put into practice what they learn ( balance, color, focal point). Each student will then be able to take home the floral arrangement that they made to enjoy over the holiday break.
Students will also learn about nursery careers as we explore the FNGLA and reach out to our extension office and master gardners.

Benefits to my students

There are so many benefits to doing hands on learning lessons with middle school students. Hands on lessons encourages students to think critically, as well as make the learning not only rigorous, but relevant to life! This activity will reach into their creative minds while having fun and learning about a very profitable career. Students will also learn that Volusia County is the Fern growing capitol of the world! They will use real life skills that are found when someone has the career in the horticulture industry as well.

STATE STANDARDS:
Orientation to Ag 8100310
03.0 Demonstrate knowledge and skills in agriscience laboratories and workshops
03.01 Identify tools used in agriculture
03.03 Complete a project demonstrating the safe use of agricultural tools
.04.0 Demonstrate knowledge and skills in plant sciences
07.0 Demonstrate product knowledge and skills in agricultural processing and marketing
07.03 Prepare, process, and market an agricultural product.

Budget Narrative

The cost of each arrangement ranges from $6-7, depending if we use the bowl and oasis or the vase. Fern Trust out of Seville, sells them to us at cost. I drive to Seville to pick up the items on the Sunday before we complete this activity. Fern Trust also adds and donates extra fern and spray paints some of the ferns for added color at no cost to us. I also plan to get candy canes to add a highlight of fun to each arrangement.

Jana Register, owner of a Fern growing operation in Seville, also helps us by donating her time and expertise by coming to visit the class and talk to them about careers in the nursery industry in Florida.