Second Grade Three Sisters Garden

Second grade is doing a project based learned project based on a Three Sisters Garden. This type of garden, originally used by Native Americans, has three different types of plants that are all planted together strategically to help each other grow.

Mrs. Kelaher's class has planted squash, which has big leaves and provides shade for the roots of all of the plants. Mrs. Black's class has planted beans which provide extra nutrients for all of the plants in the soil. Mrs. McLeod's class has planted corn which provides a stalk for the beans to grow up.

Students are taking care of the garden as well as taking data on the plant's growth. We are excited to see how our plants work together in our garden!

When the weather is warm we take class outside..  In April, 5th grade students solved problems while soaking up the sun on the blacktop.
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The garden club transplanted seedlings the Friday before Spring Break.  Unfortunately after days in the 80s, that Friday turned out cold and windy, not a good day for planting, but the only day available.  Ms. Zeugner watered twice over the break, because, we had no rain.  Not a fortuitous start for our outdoor gardens.  And then, there were the critters.  Our cucumber and squash were eaten, but the spinach is still surviving.

Tomatoes also suffered, and some were bitten off near the ground.  We tried again, with plants from the hydroponics stand near the cafeteria.  Keep your fingers crossed!
Herbs fared better, with cilantro thriving, and partly eaten basil trying to grow.  There are a few chives, one parsley plant, and nasturtiums.
 
During April, students also planted seeds for the aquaponics stand in Ms. Scharen's room.  Each homeroom put plants in the tubes and they began growing well.  They, too, suffered over spring break when a tube came loose, spraying the floor and not the plants.  Ms. Scharen and Ms. Zeugner came in mid-week and repaired the damage.  The lettuce was looking great, basil thriving, and parsley curly and thick.  Then again, a weekend snafu.  The water to the lettuce stopped dripping and we lost that crop.  It is hard running gardens when you can't monitor them every day.

We are learning.  We will put out newspaper to organically keep weeds at bay outside and spread hair collected by a 5th grade parent, to deter the bunnies and squirrels.

Our field trip on April 20th was again a success.  Students traveled to Carolina Beach where they boarded a boat to Masonboro Island.  There, they learned about the tidal ecosystems where crabs thrive along with snails and sea oats.  Students were careful with plastic bags that collected shells, learning that when dropped into the water, they are a great threat to loggerhead turtles that think they are jellyfish.  We saw oyster beds, and jumping dolphins .  We saw the difference in color where the fresh water of the Cape Fear River, meets the salty Atlantic Ocean.  We learned about how sand dunes form.  We collected and sorted shells. We enjoyed  perfect weather, with no threat of storms like last year!  Students also visited the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and played on the beach.  The water was cold but felt great on hot, tired feet.  Thanks to all who contributed to our trip, especially volunteers who donated in the office, chaperones, and to the PTA for purchasing our pizza. We are loving this event and hope to continue for years to come.