Breitling Elementary Botanical Garden: An Outdoor Laboratory

Goal The goal of the project is to develop a teaching- learning dynamic where students will become better problem solvers. When learning is linked to real-life experiences, students retain and apply information in meaningful ways (Westwater & Wolfe, 2000).

Components The project has two key components: a math and science laboratory properly equipped and technical support from community leaders and businesses.

Project Description The Breitling Elementary Botanical Garden will allow students to study indigenous and endangered species from the region. ldlife/endangered/plan ts.htmhttp:// ldlife/endangered/plan ts.htm

The Botanical Garden will provide students in each grade level with an experiment and/or project aligned with math and science objectives from the Alabama Course of Study. It includes Butterfly, Herb, vegetable, and Water Garden, as well as an Arboretum and wildflower garden.

Butterfly Garden

HERBS FOR BUTTERFLIES Yarrow, Achillea spp. Anise Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum Elephant Garlic, Allium ampeloprasum Chives, Allium schoenoprasum Dill, Anethum graveolens Angelica, Angelica spp. Wild Celery, Apium graveolens Dogbane, Apocynum cannabinum Caraway, Carum carvi New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus Queen Anne's Lace, Daucus carota Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea Eupatorium, Eupatorium spp. Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Cow Parsnip, Heracleum spp. Hyssop, Hyssop officinalis. Herbs in general are excellent nectar sources for butterflies. Lavender, Lavedula spp. Lovage, Levisticum officinale Mints, Mentha spp. Bee Balm, Mondara didyma Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa Horsemint, Monarda punctata Basil, Ocimum spp. Oregano, Origanum spp. Parsley, Petroselinum crispum Anise, Pimpinella anisum Plantain, Plantago spp. Rosemary, Rosmarinus spp. Scarlet Sage, Salvia cocinea Pineapple Sage, Salvia elegans Virginia Skullcap, Scutellaria laterifolia Thyme, Thymus spp. Culver's Root, Veronicastrum virginicum Chaste Tree, Vitex agnus-castus Umbelliferous herbs provide nectar and act as larval host plants

Vegetable Garden Students will plant an Alabama Vegetable Garden and follow a planning chart. s/plant.tmplhttp:// s/plant.tmpl ens/index.html?source=google&campaign =vegetablegardenhttp:// ens/index.html?source=google&campaign =vegetablegarden

Water Garden Students will compare and contrast habitats and ecosystems

Arboretum and Woodland Garden An arboretum is a botanical garden primarily devoted to trees and other woody plants, forming a living collection of trees intended at least partly for scientific study. An arboretum specialising in growing conifers is known as a pinetum.botanical gardentrees woody plants conifers

Wildflower Garden xtension/publications/ANR62 3.htmhttp:// xtension/publications/ANR62 3.htm Breitling Meadow Garden Wildflowers

Greenhouse A Greenhouse will be useful for students to study changes in humidity and temperature; as well as to grow plants during the winter.

Compost Bin s.com/main_comp.ht ml?gclid=COW0prHd vYgCFQMaSwodyVYj GAhttp:// s.com/main_comp.ht ml?gclid=COW0prHd vYgCFQMaSwodyVYj GA ssouri.edu/xplor/aggui des/hort/g06957.htmhttp://muextension.mi ssouri.edu/xplor/aggui des/hort/g06957.htm

Something else… Raised flower beds Patio for lectures Rocks for Water Garden Stepping stones or gravel or pond Gravel for paths Mulch

What else?

Students will understand the importance of protecting species and of using biological controls such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest problems in lieu of insecticides. The project will be a precursor for students to begin to learn how scientific experiments are conducted through collecting samples and analyzing data in real-life exercises. The Botanical Garden will serve as an outdoor classroom and as a math and science laboratory

We need your help

Grade Level Projects Plant seeds for Herbal Garden. Plant some seeds for Vegetable Garden. Design and plant the Butterfly Garden. Plant native tree species. Study water garden species. Design the patio area. Design the flower beds by the patio area.

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