How and When Did the Project Start? 

            P31 and P32’s Native Plant Learning Garden started in November 2005. Mrs. K and Miss Rothfus wanted a garden, so they split the area in front of P31 and P32 into 3 sections (Section A, B, and C). Then Mrs. K. assigned every one of her students to a section. She sent home a piece of graph paper and a worksheet called Garden Math Home Practice. Everyone designed what they thought their section should look like and filled out the worksheet.

                The worksheet asked you to explain why you thought your section should look like you want it to. It also asked you to tell what the area and perimeter of your boxes are. We had to follow 2 rules. One, you had to have a pathway wide enough to walk through. And two, you had to fit the boxes in the given area. Then, we came back to school the next day and voted on what we thought was best!

What Are Native Plants?

 

Native plants are plants that grow naturally in Washington and have not been brought here from other places. These are plants that Washingtonians have used in the past for many reasons and still do today!

Why Is the Garden Important?

                Miss Rothfus’ and Mrs. Kirby’s class have built this garden for several reasons.  One reason is to educate others about ethnobotany.  Ethnobotany is the relationship between plants and humans and it is important because native Washingtonians have used these plants in their everyday lives. Some Native Americans used sword fern for curing sore throats and tonsillitis!

                Another reason we are building this garden is because then we will be able to study the native plants in our garden.  We will not have to go far to observe and learn about the plants.  Other classes from Discovery can also visit the garden and learn about these native plants and ethnobotany.