WHAT'S COMING UP THIS MONTH?
In October, in Kindergarten we will learn about our five senses and use them to explore our garden. In First grade, we will learn about plant structure and function. In Second grade, we will learn about soil and decomposition. In Third grade, we will learn about plant adaptations. In Fourth grade, we will learn about compost and the Indigenous Ohlone Peoples. In Fifth grade, we will learn about waste. We will also taste the apples from our first Commodore Sloat Apple harvest.
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING IN THE GARDEN
In all grades, we created our garden agreements and learned about our garden stations, including the "dig zone" pictured here. In Kindergarten, we learned about one sense: touch. In First grade, we learned about what plants need to thrive. In Second grade, we started to explore what decomposition means. In Third grade, we made our garden journals and decorated them. In Fourth and Fifth grades, we also made our garden journals. We harvested the potatoes and pan fried them with delicious herbs. All the ingredients came from our edible garden!
Interesting plant or animal in the garden
Back in March, the third graders planted potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in two of the garden beds. I tried growing them in compost only and it proved to be successful: we planted twenty four individual potatoes. Mid-September, we harvested twenty six pounds! We pan-fried all of them the last week of September with the fourth and fifth graders (over 120 students.) These were delicious potatoes you typically don't find in stores: "dark red nordland" and "german butterball."
Thank you for all the donations from Sloat families last month! We now have portable electric induction stoves, pots and pans. (Pictured here.) We also received additional pruners to work in our garden. This year, I started a "chicken club" where students can take care of our two chickens "Polly" and "Chicken Little." Every Monday, during morning recess, students in third grade and up, can ask their classroom teacher for a chicken club pass.
Questions, comments or ideas? Please reach out to me at raphaelhitzke(at)cceducationoutside.org, or visit me in the garden on Mondays through Thursdays. I’d love to hear from you!
Note: All the photographs were taken in our garden.
Mr. Raphael -October 2024