Beth Gerow, Jean Mueller, Melissa Myers, Sue Dew and Sue May

Gerow and her colleagues’ innovative teaching idea, “Exploration Garden,” is designed to create a garden that can be explored in a rarely used courtyard that exists between two wings of the school building. The garden will become a central part of the learning experience. It will become an outdoor laboratory where students will plan, design, test, record, plant, grow and learn. In the garden, there will be many opportunities for learning in a variety of subjects. Students will put their math skills to work by measuring the areas that will become the garden; test their research skills to identify appropriate plants to attract butterflies local to the area; and hone their presentation skills by persuading their peers to choose their choices and layout. Additional skills and explorations will take place once the garden is established.