"Why try to explain a miracle to a child when you can have them plant a garden?"

School:: Seacrest Country Day School - Lower School
Subject:: Science
Teacher:: Terry Dalton
: Chellsey Pruitt
Students Impacted:: 80
Grade:: Pre K - 5
Date:: August 9, 2021

Investors

Thank you to the following investors for funding this grant.

Anonymous - $25.00

The Paul Pacter Fund - $170.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 80

Our playground is in a large open area that other grades often visit to see what is growing!
Gardening is hands-on and eyes-on!
Engages all the senses. (dirt is good and FUN!)
Encourages healthy eating of vegetables they had a hand in planting.
Enhances fine motor development. (digging, planting seeds)...
Introduces kids to scientific concepts and the scientific process.
Teaches responsibility and a sense of self-confidence.

Daily, our children could not be more mesmerized by nature. Their hands are always dirty from little fingers poking and touching what is in the soil. We have harvested lots of veggies and they can see the value of their labor. We released 1500 ladybugs into the plants and planted loads of milkweed which started the whole caterpillar/butterfly cycle!

It is a wonderful gift, and we are grateful.

grant photo

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Janet Kilburn Phillips (quote above) knew what she was talking about with children and planting! It is pure magic in the eyes of a child. Our goal is to extend children's involvement in growing plants and to have them take pride in helping beautify their play area. Children love to help plant, water, and observe what happens when seeds are planted and cared for!

What will be done with my students

While on the playground children will have the opportunity to care for plants. We will be planting butterfly plants as well as cherry tomato plants. They will measure and observe the growth cycle of both while watching the metamorphosis of butterflies. This is a wonderful opportunity to have our Buddy Class join in for the fun.

*My class will be asked to provide their choice of a cherry tomato plant or butterfly plant brought from home to extend involvement.

Benefits to my students

Budget Narrative

The garden bed is double-size to accommodate more children gathering.
To foster home participation, each child will be asked to donate either one butterfly plant or tomato plant.
We will incorporate seeds as needed.
Thank you for considering our request.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Double raised garden planter	$115.00
2	potting soil	$80.00
	Total:	$195.00

Please share this page to help in fulfilling this grant.