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During June, Emporia Middle School students extended their learning by completing projects that were part of their summer literacy and math classes.
“Can You Dig It?” was one of the sessions offered to teach students about gardening and landscaping while incorporating math and literacy. The session was designed by teachers Emily Baker, Travis Smith and Laura Albertson. Students in the first session, June 4 to 14, created a stacked tire planter and five raised beds at the front of the middle school. Students in the second session, June 18 to 28, filled two large planters and created five additional raised beds at the entrance.
During the two sessions, students learned about different types of plants and flowers, sun exposure requirements and proper planting techniques. Math was incorporated into the projects through extensive measurement, determining cost of materials, appropriate planting space and calculating the number of seeds for a garden. Literacy was also integrated within the unit. Students were asked to research annuals, perennials, composting and weeding and then create PowerPoint slides based on their research.
Students were also required to write a technical paper on how to plant flowers and vegetables and a paragraph summarizing three things they learned from their session.
Outside of math and literacy, students learned other skills they can use at home. They learned how to create a square foot garden and the benefits of creating such a garden. Lessons on starting seedlings, weeding, mulching, and testing soil also were part of the sessions. Guest speakers were brought in to talk about the different types of plants and how to develop greenhouses. Students took field trips to the Emporia Community Garden and the Emporia David Traylor Zoo.
Students used donated materials from Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply, Sutherlands, Kaw Valley Nursery, Kansaland Tire and Mark II Lumber to create the different gardens. The gardens will be under the care of the EMS custodial staff during the summer and Albertson hopes to start a gardening club at the beginning of the school year to continue the care of these gardens.
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