The Learning Gardens at Lemon Road Elementary School Dedicated to their creator, Dawn Jacobs

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The Learning Gardens at Lemon Road Elementary
SchoolDedicated to their creator, Dawn Jacobs
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After the building renovation in 2003, our school
was left with two enclosed areas that were to
become our learning gardens. Dawn saw the
potential for students to learn from planning,
developing and growing gardens.
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Each class was given a task. Many activities
could be related to our science and math units of
study.
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Measurements of Area and Perimeter were assessed
to create sections in the gardens.
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Parents and students built frames for garden
plots.
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All students had an active role in developing the
gardens.
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Planning the use of space and preparing the soil
can be a difficult task.
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Next it was time to plant. There was lots to
learn about designing and creating a successful
garden.
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Each class decided what they would plant and grow.
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Classes planted flowers and vegetables. Each
class had a purpose in mind for their garden.
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Success comes with hard work.
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After several years our gardens have prospered
and expanded. Students have studied and labeled
various plants.
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A tool shed and storage have been added to house
our gardening equipment.
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It was not long before animals started moving
into our gardens. Turtles and birds appreciate
our green areas and have chosen to raise their
families here.
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Two baby Eastern Box Turtles where born here. We
created a Turtle habitat to keep them safe. We
observe as they eat and grow.
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Our turtle habitat
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A Morning Dove and two families of Robins hatched
their eggs in our gardens. Students watched as
the eggs hatched and the babies grew.
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Humming birds love our flowering plants.
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Today our gardens are beautiful, educational and
inspirational. They have provided many wonderful
learning experiences for our students. Students
love maintaining them.
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We have added a memorial garden to Carol
Stellings, our dedicated ESOL teacher who died in
2006.
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The bench is a great place to read or relax.
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The fourth grade designed and built a mosaic
garden where students can sit and rest.
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Sixth graders have lunch in the gardens on warm
sunny days.
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Our gardening efforts have expanded to
beautification for the front of our school.
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We now boast of colorful, labeled gardens which
are maintained by students and parents.
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Kindergarten First Grade students studied the
life cycle of pumpkins. What better way to
observe the cycle than planting pumpkin
seeds and watching them grow.
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Each Kindergarten/First grade class prepared a
garden to watch their bulbs grow. They were proud
of their results.
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Our school created its own compost by discarding
unfinished fruits and vegetables to a compost pot
at lunch time.
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The Third Grade raised the ingredients for their
salad party.
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The Fourth Grade raised the ingredients for their
salsa party.
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Our gardens produce many flowers and vegetables
which the PTA sells at school functions to gain
financial support for our continuing learning
gardens.
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Thank you Dawn for starting what has become an
incredible learning experience for our students.
Our school community is richer for your efforts.