Help me give my students eight bags of dirt to use in the garden so they can produce and donate fresh vegetables for members of the community that are in need, while learning many life skills.
Students at our Elementary love to take every opportunity to spend STEM class outside. Whether it's for collecting leaves for leaf chromatography or gathering moss for terrariums, students love to be outside.
In STEM, students have come to appreciate the hands-on and minds-on approach to learning, and the garden allows for that to be extended to the outside world.
At Southwest, we have 6 garden beds that need top soil. Top soil is a crucial layer to a garden bed. It provides nutrients for plants to grow. It holds water after a light rain so plant can absorb it when they need it. Our goal is for every garden bed to be functional so that all students can learn the basics of growing and harvesting their own food. Students will start this adventure in early spring. They will begin by sprouting the bean and squash seeds indoors. Once the plants have an established root system, students will transplant them to the garden beds and tend to them every week. As the plants grow, students will design and build trellises for the plants to grow on.
The students at SWES know that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, but that the skill and knowledge learned can be used anywhere. They know that science is more than just a chemical reaction,it's also botany, zoology, ecology. They have come to realize that all things have been engineered, even in a garden.
Students at Southwest would love for this project to be funded so that they can give back to the community through the organization, A Simple Gesture. They would love to see their efforts turn into tangible things that can donated to others in need, all while learning the skills needed to be kind and helpful citizens in their communities.
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Morrison and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
