Attract and Disperse : Lessons in Diversity

What better way to experience the diversity of life on our planet than to be taught in a garden? Each day spent in the garden immerses a student in a natural environment where plants and animals interact. Over time, they see thesis organisms change seasonally and develop throughout their lives. Through garden education, students witness these natural cycles firsthand.

Thank you, Mr. Bee, for helping to pollinate our zucchini!

This month, Pre-K students at San Miguel Early Education School began to learn about flowers as attractors for pollinators. They went on a “color scavenger hunt”, matching colored flashcards to plants throughout the garden.

Over here, pollinators!

Perfect match!

Older students at San Miguel had a seed diversity lessons, dissecting and investigating a variety of seed vessels. We discussed how reproductive rate may vary between plants as a result of their differing seed dispersal methods.

Can you name the 8 different plants whose seeds are pictured here?

Working some ART into our S.T.E.M. lessons –  we believe in the power of S.T.E.A.M. !

Speaking of Scarlet Runners – have you ever seen such beautiful beans as these?

Scientific illustrator in training

Prayer Flag Project Complete!

Teachers Sue Meyer and Cecilia Frisardi worked with several classes on an art and literacy project at San Miguel Early Education School this past summer. Students were asked to come up with dreams and goals for their communities and paint these onto a flag. Check out the display in the Redwood Circle at the OMI/Excelsior Branch of a living library today!

 Sue’s class inscribed their flag with such phrases as “Grow Food”, “Save Water”, and “Spread Love”.

With each gust of wind, positive energy blows across the schoolyard.