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Introducing  
​NEST Fellows
2015-16

Thank you to NEST Teachers Margaret Swisher, Kim Hickman, Rick Bain, Teresa Torrence, and Susan Mahood for their role as Project NEST advisors for the 2015-16 School Year.

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Notes from the NEST: Teacher Blog

1/29/2016

14 Comments

 
Picture
Who's gardening? It's a green sweep. Central ES started a new school garden in Spring 2015 as did Fairfield ES. Natural Bridge ES and Mountain View ES also have greenhouses and gardens. Waddell ES is looking forward to a new Roots and Shoots Garden upon return to campus. Enderly Heights ES just received a garden funded by a Healthy Communities grant and students at Kling ES are also gardening in their atrium.

1.29.16
Growing Learning in the Greenhouse
by Rick Bain 
NEST Fellow and 4th grade teacher at Fairfield ES

When is the right time to plant in a greenhouse? That is the question that I had while lying awake one of those long nights that teachers have. I had so many questions. Plant too early and we have frozen greens. Last year we planted too late and ….BURNT VEGGIES. What is the perfect time?

The students and I are planning to do a large tomato garden this year along with our normal growing of tulips. Both are a great tool that I use while teaching plants near the end of the year. Tulips have such wonderful open reproductive organs that they work wonders for studying the pistol and stamens of the plant. The tomatoes are good to observe bees shake pollinating. These hands on activities help me keep my students interested and help them develop a real life conception of what we are learning.  Lost for an answer I did what most people of this generation do, I Googled it. So, for all of those teachers who are out searching for answers, here is what I have found. 

According to www.planetnatural.com it is not about the time in which you plant, it is more about environmental control. This really splits into three categories:
  1. Ventilation- This is very crucial as plants can overheat even during the cold months if your greenhouse is in direct sunlight. You can have hand crank vents or some greenhouses can be adapted or come with temperature controlled vents. If you have a hand crank then a thermometer is essential as you will have to closely monitor the temperature.
Tip: Teach students to read the thermometer and then you can use this as a graphing activity.
  1. Heating- If you live in a cold weather area then this will be essential. You may have to insulate your greenhouse to keep the warmth in. www.planetnatural.com suggests that a small 220 volt heater would be a great way keep your greenhouse warm during those night hours. Looking to go green? They also suggest a solar powered heater.
Tip: Don’t have a greenhouse that supports a heater. www.planetnaturalcom suggests to insulate your greenhouse and place rocks or barrels of water inside your greenhouse to capture the suns heat and those will hold the heat and keep your plants warm.
  1. Shading- If you have a greenhouse like mine then it sits right in the direct sun. Shading is going to be essential. The website suggests that Polypropylene shade cloth or roll-up screens can help shade your plants from direct summer heat.
Tip: Are you like me and your school doesn’t have money to buy materials? The students can make shades out of bulletin board paper, paper bags, or old sheets.

So, when is the right time to plant in your greenhouse?

Anytime. Students need to be out doing and learning. Your greenhouse is a great way to accomplish that. Don’t have one you say! Wish you did? Well make sure to come back and check out our post. Many Blessings.
​

14 Comments

January 29th, 2016

1/29/2016

15 Comments

 
11.17.15.
Stop, Drop…and Kiss!
by Elise Sheffield (Boxerwood)

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and among all the things we have to be thankful for, how about the earth beneath our feet?

​During a program at Boxerwood this month, a third grade class from Central became so overtaken by the value of soil for all living things that they literally dove onto the ground to—in their exact words--“stop, drop, and kiss!” Later they put their love in action by tackling a soil erosion problem on our hillside. (See below, kids filled an eroded gully with brush to help "slow the flow.")
 
The sight of 8-year olds diving into kissing push-ups on the Boxerwood lawn got me thinking: how might all of us show gratitude for the earth this time of year? Are we putting out bird feeders? Planting trees? Leaving brush piles for animals in our backyard? Reducing use of fossil fuels, paper, plastic? 
 
Big or little there are many actions that put our love in gear.
Which one, this month, will be yours?
15 Comments

    Authors

    Rick Bain teaches science with a hands-on approach and a lot of digging at Fairfield Elementary School.

    Elise Sheffield coordinates the NEST program as education director at Boxerwood Nature Center.

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