K-2 ʻEpekema Māla

Haumāna in grades kindergarten through second grade use the garden to conduct scientific experiments and develop practices of sustainability. Kumu Kalau Robins and Kumu BJ Peloso value ʻāīna education and have incorporated it into their curriculum.

NEW ADDITION TO OUR CAMPUS... WORMS!!!

Hui Koʻe ʻUla

Kindergarteners collect lunch time food wastes and each class take turns feeding, watering and general care of their worms.

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Singing to Save H2O

To minimize water waste, haumāna sing the birthday song to the newly born worms daily! Who needs a timer??? Not them!!!

Vermicasting

Vermicasting increases seed germination, root numbers, plant yields and leads to earlier flowering.

Verimicasting or vermicomposting is when you put fruits or vegetables into a bin. The worms eat the food and turn your food waste into worm castings. It is a usable fertilizer that you can put in your garden. It’s actually kind of a wonder fertilizer.

How To Make Worm Casting Tea:

Place fresh food scraps in the bucket thoroughly coating every layer of scraps with a layer of Bokashi compost starter.
Close the lid tightly after every use to ensure an anaerobic (oxygen-free/closed-air) environment. Oxygen can cause odor during the composting process.
Once the container is filled to capacity, bury the compost directly in the soil. Or let the food waste continue to ferment for two weeks, draining the liquid compost tea every 1-3 days.
Then transfer the compost from your bin to your garden or planter. Allow at least two more weeks for the fermentation process to continue in the soil before planting your favorite veggies, flowers, trees, etc.

Soil Enriching Gandule Beans

After harvesting ʻuala, gandule beans were planted to enrich the soil with nitrogen. An added bonus is the trees provide shade during lunch for first graders while dining on the benches.

Playground Māla

Various locations around the first-grade playground are slated for planting. Ki and crown flower currently provide lei for special events. Most importantly, students learn about plant needs and care by working in the māla.

Kindergarten

The garden curriculum focuses on plant needs and parts. Students use their senses to describe colors, shapes, sizes, and smells. They explore plants they may be familiar with, as well as different ones they may have never seen before. The garden provides hands-on experiences for each haumana.

First Grade

The function of plant parts and how do plants grow are at the center of first grade work. In addition, students explore the very unique habitat of a garden. What animals or insects might you find in this system and how are each important to a garden habitat?

Second Grade

The māla serves as a living lab for students to explore life cycles and the water cycle. Essential questions include: How can water be recycled? How does water affect my garden? What can I plant to encourage helpful insects that may help with pollination? How can I help with pollination for endangered plants?

Much of summer 2019 recess was spent exploring and tending to the K-2 māla. Removing weeds and finding creatures was the highlight for many haumāna.

Paper Mache Art

Kawahine Tokunaga, K-2 Art Kumu, worked with first grade students to create gastropod forms using newspaper and paper mache. The innovative sculptures blend in with their natural māla habitat.

Tops & Bottoms Exploration

Media Specialist, kumu Ruby Redona collaborated with science kumu Bev Kustunai to help students explore, "What is better to eat, the top of a plant or the bottom? She incorporated the children's book "Tops & Bottoms" by Janet Stevens, a Caldecott Honor Book. The images are exemplars of student's work from this mini-project.

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