Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Beyond the Pail: Allie Navratil, 11, puts tanbark on 'Mount Shasta.'
How does your garden grow?
Elementary students study science as they tend miniature version of Northern California
By Chantal Lamers
Tucked alongside South San Jose's foothills is a grove where sequoias reach toward the sky. The Sacramento River flows nearby, jumping with salmon and steelhead trout. And California poppies line a walkway that leads to a Central Valley orchard where cherries, peaches, plums, apples, oranges and grapes ripen.
This 1 1/4-acre garden in Randol Elementary School's backyard is a microcosm of Northern California's ecosystem. The two-year-old garden gives Randol students the opportunity to experience science outside of the classroom and to get their hands dirty.
The idea to plant a garden began growing in 1998, when science teacher Cheryl Connolly got tired of the weeds that thrived outside her classroom. She applied for a grant from National Geographic magazine, seized help from the community and created a learning center that represents every aspect of Northern California.
Now every student spends an afternoon in the garden each week, pulling weeds, feeding worms, tending vegetables or observing the growth of their plants. The children learn about art, math, history and geography, Connolly said.
The fifth-graders are each responsible for tracking one plant throughout the semester. Students spend an hour in the garden each week tracking their plant's changes in their nature journals.
Under the branches of a 12-foot coast redwood sit three fifth-grade girls. Journals in hand, they say they chose the tree because they wanted one near the "river." The river is represented by a stream of rocks, not real water.
Sheri Lehman says the growing tree is sprouting more needles. Her two partners, Sierra Mendoza and Jessica Guel, say they enjoy sitting outside watching their tree grow and change over the seasons.
Two trees away sit five boys who chose their coast redwood because it looked like the biggest, strongest tree around. "We chose the strongest 'cause we're strong," James Hallihan said.
The other boys, Daniel Woodall, Adam Del Toro, Eli Figueroa and Bryan DePalma, have watched their tree grow about three inches since September. They say the tree is strong enough to take on all the weeds.
Surrounding the garden are murals painted by parents, teachers and volunteers, that represent the different pieces of the garden.
Near rows of corn is a mural of California missions and wigwams where the Ohlone Indians once lived. Painted near a representation of Lake Shasta is a forest of redwood trees.
This year, Connolly started a new tradition. Students painted rocks with ladybugs, butterflies and flowers on them to line the garden's paths. Some students painted rocks with frogs, fish and crabs on them to sit in the imaginary riverbed or climb up the waterfall.
A 70-pound addition to the garden arrived in March. Four giant worm bins, about five feet long each, are filled with growing worms. Connolly said the children feed them their cafeteria lunch leftovers daily. Soon, the worms will be incorporated into the garden where the kindergartners work.
While kindergartners pick carrots, Connolly watches the garden grow. She says the garden was built in a weekend by parents, teachers and volunteers from the community. "I think it's the most rewarding part," Connolly said. "It shows how really warm, generous and caring people are."
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
