A science garden grows at Howard Beach school

June 17, 10:27 PMQueens Education News ExaminerLorraine Cappuccio

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At P.S. /M.S. 146 in Howard Beach, Queens science teacher Jodi Guerriero obtained a large area of land that she has turned into a garden for her students in grades Kindergarten-3. In the garden students grow organic tomatoes, peppers and broccoli. They also predict the weather based on the temperature of the soil and air which they measure daily. Also they develop tiny caterpillars until they turn into butterflies.

According to Guerriero by having  the students use the garden they can have opportunities to apply what they have learned in their science lessons to real life situations. Each section of the science garden is full of things studied in science class. There is a landscaping fabric made from recycled water bottles covering a portion of the garden. In another section of the garden there is a tulip patch where students gather with their science teacher to measure rainfall, air and soil temperatures. Birdhouses fashioned from orange juice cartons and milk cartons also hang in the garden. 

Guerirero  had the support and the backing of her principal Mary Reilly when she approached her with the idea of creating the science garden at the school.  She spent most of her money getting the tools and supplies needed for it and spent much of her time developing it. Other staff members even pitched in.

Every morning the school custodian mows the lawn in the garden and waters its plants and flower beds using recycled rain water that collects in a homemade vat. The art teacher at P.S./M.S. 146 worked with Guerriero and her students to make multicolored vases and bird feeders out of  mosaic tiles, while another teacher has helped the students plant in the garden. Donations from parents included watering cans, seeds and flowers. A local bake shop gifted the school with a bench to put near the garden.

Ms. Guerriero is happy with the response to this project and plans to build a gazebo over the garden next.

As a former science teacher I believe that this teacher's development of  this garden for her students was a great  idea to bring science to life for her students. Science is a very abstract subject to teach small children and students should be given ample opportunities to experience science and not just read about it in books.