Students Dig into Education on Earth Day
Students get hands-on lesson in horticulture
By MELISSA NEWTON
Updated 11:45 AM CST, Wed, Apr 22, 2009
Students at Lakeview Elementary School in Trophy Club got a hands-on lesson in nature Wednesday morning.
The school unveiled the Outdoor Learning Center, an interactive garden that gives children the opportunity to grow their own plants and their minds.
"It helps us learn more," 4th grader Nathan Fusselman said. "To like, know how long it takes different plants."
"When we're out here, we get to learn about nature," 5th grader Camille Houston said. "And really get into the feeling of knowing what it's like."
Fifth grade science teacher Teri Nickells came up with the idea for the garden.
"It is so important on this Earth Day to realize that we need to take care of our planet," Nickells said. "I thought what better way to make that a reality for them everyday, than to build a garden?"
It's a lesson not easily taught in a textbook.
"They can read about it all day long but until they actually do it, experience it, and live it, they don't really learn it," said Nickells.
Students will grow everything from flowers to vegetables. Each grade level has their own raised bed in the garden where they will study their plants in correlation with their curriculum.
"Its really important for our students to come out here and learn about the environment surrounding them," Lakeview Principal Shane Conklin said. "It really brings learning into context."
The Outdoor Learning Center was made possible by donations and support from the Trophy Club community.
First Published: Apr 22, 2009 11:17 AM CST
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