Students at Charles C. Bell Elementary took what they’ve learned in the media center and applied it to the world around them.
Media Center Coordinator Amy Brown and students in grades Kindergarten through fifth have learned about butterflies from a variety of books. Each grade level has even taken on some kind of project about the insect either inside or outside the school. The older students took on a rather large project that the whole school will enjoy for years to come.
“All of the students in the media extension class have done a research project on the monarch butterfly,” said Ms. Brown. “We’ve learned about the ways we can help the species. Students came up with an idea to create a butterfly garden. This garden has rounded out our research in a very real way, to have the students put into action the things we’ve learned about.”
For some students this was their first time making a garden, and the group was excited to leave their mark on the school.
“This was my first time gardening, and I had so much fun doing so,” said fifth grader Brody Justus. “It makes me happy knowing that I am helping the environment and starting something at my school that will be here for years to come.”
Asheville Greenworks donated 20 milkweed plants for this project, and Fifth Season Gardening Company donated the soil that allowed both the fourth and fifth grade classes to help their garden come to life. The garden is in the courtyard right outside the media center window.
“I think this is a great addition to our school,” said Ms. Brown. “Milkweed is really hardy, so this is going to be a thriving garden for our community. There’s so much to be done out here in this courtyard with learning, art installations, and hopefully more gardening in the future.”
