Worms and turnips are pretty hot topics these days at Pikeville Elementary School in Pikeville, Ky. The primary school students are raising worms so they can enhance their turnip crop, because they love eating turnips.
Teacher, Traci Tackett engaged students in a conversation on energy; which led to how food is shipped; which led to talk of gardening; which ended up to be several raised beds, and related projects at the school. The Plant it for the Planet project is now an important part of the education process. Teachers find it easier to introduce concepts in Anatomy, Biology, Math, Botany, Soil, Food, and Chemistry once students needed to know information for their garden.
The school, and delighted parents, also discovered their children loved carrots, turnips, mustard greens, lettuce and broccoli once they tasted the fruits of their labor.
When students are challenged they work harder. When students are physically and emotionally attached to their work, learning accelerates. When students have a context and need for math it becomes a useful subject…to them.
Learn more about the Pikeville Plant it for the Planet program at www.tinyurl.com/pesplantit website. There is an on-sight and virtual workshop for parents and teachers April 30th. You can register at the website. You can also learn more about gardening at www.motherofahubbard.com.
Listen to Mrs. Tackett outline the program, and her professional mentor for this project, Cathy Rehmeyer, talk about her experience with the project.
Pikeville Elementary Plant it for the Planet (Traci Tackett)
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Plant it for the Planet Program Mentor (Cathy Rehmeyer)
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