Ms. Ferris is coming up with unique ways to embed kindness into her student's everyday lives. Her next project is to teach students kindness through working together to complete a kindness butterfly garden. 

 

Recently, elementary students worked with high school students to plant flower seeds to add to the garden. They taught students how to test the pH levels of the soil, how to plant plants, what foods come from plants, what plants need to grow, and how to make seed bombs. The class currently has seeds under a grow light and are comparing the growth time and health of a plain seed compared to a seed bomb.

 

Their next phase is to begin to assemble the garden. Students will be gathering small stones to paint to decorate the garden, local nurseries volunteered to donate a plant or two, and some high school students have volunteered to make a welcoming sign for the garden. They will be using their Agricultural Literacy Grant funds to teach students and other teachers through literature how to plant, maintain, and sustain a garden. 

 

Their outcomes include planting, maintaining and sustaining a garden that will teach students in grades Pre-K-5 a love for various types of gardens. They hope that by planting a successful butterfly garden, it will spark interest in students to eventually plant a vegetable garden, herb garden, and some fruit trees at the school and possibly at home.