Learning Sprouts in the Garden!

The sun was shining brightly over The Peck School as a group of excited fifth graders made their way to the school's community garden. 

These young green thumbs were partnering with the second-grade classes, who have been learning about the regions of the indigenous people throughout the year. During their recent trip to Waterloo Village, second graders learned all about the Lenape, including their "Three Sisters" planting technique – a sustainable method where corn, beans, and squash are planted together to benefit each other's growth.

Tall corn stalks provide support for climbing bean vines, while the squash spreads its leaves across the ground to suppress weeds and retain moisture – a true example of teamwork in the plant world!

Back-to-Nature provided many plants for our school community to enjoy, and students will be able to see how these plants interact with one another as they grow too.

After the planting was complete, fifth graders turned their attention to their own area of study from the year–ancient civilizations. Recalling their studies, they embarked on creating a sundial right there in the garden. With a stick planted firmly in the ground, they used the sun to find the cardinal directions to mark the hours based on the sun's movement throughout the day.

"The garden is a fantastic resource for hands-on learning," said Carlo. "Giving students the opportunity to create something from scratch, like the sundial, or plant seeds that will soon grow into produce gives them a real sense of pride and accomplishment in their work."

This collaborative day in the garden wasn't just about planting seeds and learning about timekeeping. It was about fostering a love for learning, building relationships between different age groups, and demonstrating the interconnectedness of various subjects!