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PLANNING INPUT - Plants
ELEMENT: Plants
Leader: Mary Hall
Teacher(s) who provided requirements:
1. Describe this element in some detail:
See ‘Plants’
2. Describe the educational aspects / requirements for this element:
Plants and their life cycles and functions, are studied by all grades. The
gardens can be used for many different activities and studies; from the
Kindergartners simple seed germination and plant growth studies to the more
complex classifications and cellular studies of the fifth and sixth graders.
A variety of types of plants and bushes should be planted in order to
facilitate these studies.
3. How will this element support or meet the educational requirements, and
how will the teachers and students use the
element?
The
teachers and students will use this element as an outdoor laboratory. The
gardens will provide plants for many different studies and observations. The
students will be able to apply the scientific method as they learn about
seed dispersal, plant growth, life cycles, plant parts and functions, food
webs and the relationships between plants and animals.
4. Is there a relationship between this element and other elements in the
courtyard? Which ones?
Hopefully all the elements in the courtyard will relate to each other.
Plants are one of the pivotal elements within the courtyard as insects,
birds, and animals all depend on the type of plants in the gardens. Also
composting, the pond, birdhouse / feeders, walkways and teaching stations
will all be directly related to the placement and types of plants and
gardens.
5. Describe how this element will be provided and installed.
Once the garden designs are done and it is decided what plants, trees and
shrubs are wanted, the next step would be to find
a supply for them. Possible suppliers could be Soil and Water Conservation,
DEC, Marcy Prison, area nurseries. The Oneida / Herkimer Solid Waste
Authority may be a possible source for compost and topsoil. As soon as the
ground can be worked, the gardens should be prepared and trees and shrubs
should be planted. Some of the plants can be saved to be planted by the
students during class time.
6. What resources are needed to complete this element?
The
two main resources needed are plants and man power. The initial preparation
of the garden sites ( remove the sod, turn the
soil, add fertilizer and compost) will take the longest amount of time.
7. What maintenance do you foresee for this element over the next 10 years?
The
majority of the plants will be perennials so they should be able to get by
with a spring and fall prep and clean up and some minor weeding. The annual
and vegetable garden will need some weekly weeding and watering.
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Plants
A series of gardens will be planted in the Columbus School
courtyard. They will be designed to be used as outdoor laboratories. The
students will be able to use them for a variety of studies and observations.
The plants, shrubs and trees will also provide food and shelter for birds
and insects and add to the aestetics of the
courtyard. Some ideas for gardens are as follows:
State Garden
- A Garden in the shape of New York planted with native plants. A similar
kit is available through Carolina that uses the State Symbols and comes with
supplies and instructions. The kit is $67:00
Wild Garden - A very low maintenance garden that is
basically a wild meadow.Will include plants such
as Milkweed, Goldenrod, Queen Anne’s Lace, Bee Balm, Yarrow, Cone Flowers,
etc. These plants will provide a home to numerous insects and food to
various birds.
Woodland Garden - A shade garden
possible around a stump of one of the existing trees.
Features ferns and Mosses as well as shade loving
plants. A home for snails, slugs, worms and
spiders.
An Annual
Garden - This
is the garden that the teachers could use for planting bean plants that the
students have started in the classrooms and plant vegetables and bright
annual plants with big blossoms for flower study.
Easy growing bulbs such as Daffodils and Crocuses could be
naturalized around the courtyard. Along one wall or in a corner a wildlife
packet of shrubs could be planted to provide food and shelter for birds.
Wildlife packets are available through the DEC or Cooperative Extension and
usually include Dogwoods, Highbush
Cranberries,Roses,
Autumn Olive, Etc.
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