Cumberland+Road

=Cumberland Road=

I know we are excited about the butterfly garden coming to our school. I have been thinking of many different kinds of activities we could do in my third grade class. I want to do some of the creative writing activities we did in the workshop. I also want to do long term data collection so that we can practice collecting and interpreting data and then using it to create different kinds of graphs. It will also make science integration easier and a lot more interesting.

One of the sites we are thinking about is in our courtyard between A, D, and E Halls. There is nothing there except a pine tree and an apple tree and grass. Last year the science lab teacher started a compost project. That will help us provide organic matter to help prepare the soil.

We are going to be making a final selection of our site and then get it prepared. -Nicholas Marshall 3rd Grade Teacher

Our students are totally excited about the butterfly garden and all the butterflies they are going to see in all the stages of their developement. In science class they are already planing a Friday afternoon club where they will take care of the plants and animals alike. We can't wait to get started. Andrea Hildel-Reyes 3-5 Science teacher

We finally got all the perm,issions from all the inspectors done. Whew... who knew that everybody and then some people had to check for lines and cables and pipes and I do not know what. Meanwhile the grass grew back because there was so much wonderful rain.... Andrea Hildel-Reyes 3-5 Science Teacher

We got our soil deliverd and layed out in the shape of a butterfly, it was a lot of hard work. I am sore all over and the kids were great in helping. We are so excited to get the plants and then of course see how many butterflies will come. We are so excited about Wednesday, our planting day. Andrea Hildel-Reyes 3-5 Science Teacher

=Gardening Day Pictures!!=

December 14th 2011, I have a bunch of pictures but do not know how to get them all posted. My students are so in love with our butterfly garden and with the caterpillars/ crysalists, it is amazing what a little planting does. Students are really taking care of the garden. We have since mulched out the side areas and put a pine straw border that looks like a frame/ picture frame for our butterfly garden. Several plants have thrown their leaves and it got us fantastic discussions about how plants winterize. Some plants are still nice and green like our fennel has just taken off now that the catterpillars are in their cocoon. We just de-pinstrawed it yesterday and tidied it up a bit. Science club is like the caretaker of the butterfly garden. Andrea Hildel-Reyes 3 - 5 Science Lab Teacher Cumberland Road Montessori School.