Literacy, Service Learning & Going Green Project

This project is a fine example of teacher-librarian collaboration.  The project's objective is to promote reading, community service and a greater understanding of our environment and the need to protect the earth.  The project has two components: reading and service.  The reading component involves the reading of an enviromentally-themed novel.  Science students of native English speaking background, have been paired with immigrant students in the English Language Development program. Both groups of students will have read the novel together.  Echoing the characters in the story, students have began the planing of an organic garden on campus.  Some of the spring crops they have planted include tomatoes, beans and chillies.   

Our students had the unique opportunity of visiting The Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens on September 2, 2010.  While there students learned about horticulture and picked up tips on what plants to grow at our school garden.  Please view the slideshow above of the fieldtrip pictures.  You will see students actively engaged in learning and journaling.  Journal writing has been an important component of student's participation.  Students have been asked to write down reflections of what they have learned and experienced during project activities.