“To make money, because we are self sufficient,” said fifth grader teacher Sondra Harris. “We have to make our own money to buy supplies for the next year.”
Part of the students’ science curriculum, the gardening program started three years ago. Fourth and fifth graders grow plants of all sorts in the schools’ greenhouse, from flowers to vegetables.
“It’s amazing how much more the kids will eat when they have grown it,” said Harris.
The gardening offers students life lessons that normally cannot be taught in a traditional classroom.
“Hands-on curriculum is just wonderful,” said Harris.
For the students, it’s a way to get outside and work together.
“I like the teamwork that everybody gives and helps with all the plants,” said Ema Rinehart.
“I like transplanting the plants from one pot to another to make them bigger,” Abby McDaniel.
It’s also an unexpected lesson in vocabulary
“I have learned about a couple new plants names, such as vinka and celosia,” said Adrian Kerr.
But gardening isn’t all fun and games. Fifth grader Ethan Graham says that sometimes you have to fight off other creatures to keep the plants healthy.
“These white pests that are so annoying, they just suck all the nutrients out of the plants.”
Officials at the county extension office and K-State have provided guidance to the fourth and fifth graders to ensure they are maintaining proper plant care.
The students’ spring produce sale will be tomorrow from 3:30 to 5:30 in front of the old agricultural building at Erie Elementary
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