Mr. Brian's Garden

A garden designed to teach students about nutrition, the physiology of plants, and teamwork took on a life of its own when one of the most important workers and supporters of the garden and school passed away unexpectedly. The garden is now named "Mr. Brian's Garden" in his honor. Overseen by 2 faculty members, an administrator, and a parent, the garden has supplied fresh vegetables for many and countless science and life learning lessons. For example, a 3rd class and 1st grade class teamed up for reading buddies and conducted their final session next to the garden. I visited and observed the relationships that had formed among the students. The garden is a reading lesson and a community building lesson. Several students and I began walking through the garden and before I knew it, both classes were following me around. We discussed the variety of plants, how they grew, which parts to eat and so on. I asked the students many questions to arouse their thinking process. The garden is a science lesson and a nutrition lesson. One girl wondered about the height of a sunflower plant and estimated that it was 3 meters tall. The garden is a math lesson. Aside from the four adult sponsors, there are three groups who rotate maintenance responsibilities: The Einstein Girls, a Boy Scout group, and the 6th grade Environmental Club. The garden is a teamwork lesson.