Rochelle Waggenspack

Waggenspack's "Flower Frenzy Landscaping" is a project in which fifth- through eighth-graders work with a local landscaper to beautify the school's recess area. After measuring the area to be landscaped and determining what plants would be appropriate for the climate, students present their findings in a slide show. Through their presentations and research, the students hone their English skills and see how all academic areas are interconnected and relate to real-world problem solving. And the resulting courtyard can be used as an outdoor learning center where students can investigate plant biology, compose poems or essays about their surroundings, or simply relax and study.