Ms. Gardner's 2nd Graders Celebrate Earth Week

This week Ms. Gardner's 2nd graders celebrated Earth Week. They planted seeds in recycled egg cartons, composted and planted some more seeds in their raised bed.

The egg carton seed starting project was from Scrapkins. By planting in egg cartons, the children helped the Earth by reusing the egg cartons which will decompose in the ground when they are wet and planted.  The children planted lettuce, carrot and basil seeds in their egg cartons and took them home with instructions for care. They covered the seeds with just a bit of soil as the seeds are small.

In class we discussed that compost helps the Earth by reusing food scraps and items from trees rather than throwing them away.  Compost ingredients are classified as greens (food scraps excluding meat products) and browns (items from trees). Children took turns putting items in the compost bin. They added corn husks, lettuce, strawberries, coffee grounds, coffee filters, newspaper and leaves.

The children planted companion plants of tomatoes in the salsa bed. Companion plants are friends that help the other plants grow well.  They planted lettuce and radish seeds and a nasturtium.  We also looked at the arugula in Ms. Soo's bed and tasted the arugula flowers. They are spicy! Some of the children took home arugula seed pods. They can plant the seeds when they are dry.

Ms. Yoshida's 2nd Graders Plant and Compost

Yesterday Ms. Yoshida's students planted in recycled egg cartons, planted in their salsa bed and composted.

In honor of Earth Week, they planted seeds in recycled egg cartons. We discussed how it's good for the environment to reuse items. Another benefit of the egg cartons is that they will decompose in the ground once the seedlings are transplanted. The children chose between corn, lettuce and carrot seeds.

We used a worksheet from Scrapkins for the activity.

We also discussed composting. Ms. Marie showed the children some of what she composts at home. We compost greens-vegetable and fruit scraps and browns-items that come from trees such as bark, leaves, twigs and paper. We do not compost chicken or beef items. The children had good comments about compost!  Outside the children added vegetable scraps and coffee filters to the compost bin.

The children also planted in the raised bed. They planted tomato seedlings. They also planted carrot and lettuce seeds. Carrots and lettuce are companion plants for tomatoes.

Thanks to members of the Pacific Palisades Garden Club for donating the egg cartons.

Ms. Conn's and Ms. Keller's 5th Graders Plant in their Bed

Today the 5th graders in Ms. Conn's and Ms. Keller's classes planted in the Jeffersonian bed.  We first reviewed the fact that peas were Jefferson's favorite vegetable. They planted peas and tennis ball lettuce. All the vegetables are heirlooms. The heirloom tennis ball lettuce seeds were donated by Seed Savers Exchange. They planted Tom Thumb pea seedlings similar to what we would get from Monticello.  Finally, they planted radish seeds. The goal in planting lettuce and radish seeds is that they will germinate fairly quickly so the students can make a salad before the end of the school year.

A parent volunteer will work to better squirrel proof this bed since squirrels have gotten in recently...

Mrs. Fein's 2nd Graders Celebrate Earth Week

Yesterday Mrs. Fein's 2nd graders celebrated Earth Week by planting seeds in egg cartons. We discussed that they were reusing the egg cartons and thus not planting the seeds in pots that we purchased.  The egg cartons will decompose in the soil once they are planted.

The class theme for the week was Protecting the Earth's Resources.

We used a Scrapkins project that showed directions for planting in the egg cartons. Each child planted in half of the carton. They chose between corn, beans and lettuce seeds. Each child picked six seeds. When there are three sets of leaves the children can plant the seeds in a pot or in the garden. Before planting they should let the seedlings sit outside for a few hours three days before-but not in direct sun. When planting, they should make sure the carton is really wet and that there are big holes at the bottom so the roots can grow down. All of the carton should be covered with soil when planting. Make sure to fertilize the soil.

We also discussed composting. Ms. Marie brought in samples of the items that she composts. The students also offered suggestions. Browns are items from trees such as paper, leaves, bark and small twigs. Greens are fruit and veggie scraps and egg shells. Scraps include s lettuce, coffee grounds, apple cores.  This is a way to create fertilizer for the soil. At Marquez we have both a worm bin and a tumbler composter. Ms. Marie showed off some red wriggler worms that live in the worm bin.

Ms. Timmerman's 5th Graders Harvest their Lettuce

Yesterday Ms. Timmerman's 5th graders harvested their bed of lettuce which they had planted in February. It was a huge amount of lettuce! The lettuce was an assortment of heirloom Tennis Ball Lettuce from Monticello and romaine lettuce. Tennis ball lettuce was one of Thomas Jefferson's favorite lettuce varieties. We harvested now to avoid having it bolt as the weather is getting warm.

The harvesters did a great job of pulling it out by the roots. They also found a few radishes.

The class made a salad which they shared with another class. There was still plenty for them to take home!

Ms. Connors' 2nd Graders Celebrate Earth Day

Yesterday Ms. Connor's 2nd graders celebrated Earth Day. They planted in peat pots that they took home, planted seeds and seedlings in their salsa bed and composted.

Ms. Carolyn, a volunteer, helped the children plant in the pots. She explained that the peat pots were biodegradable. The children chose seeds from our selection of donated seeds.

Next, the children planted seeds and seedlings in the newly constructed raised bed. 2nd graders plant salsa gardens in the spring so they planted jalapeno peppers, tomatoes and onion seeds. They also planted chives and marigolds which are companion plants for tomatoes.

Finally, the students put vegetable and fruit scraps and paper in the compost bin. We discussed that composting is a way to help the environment. Instead of throwing out the scraps we compost them and eventually will add the compost to the garden.

How to take care of the plants in the peat pots:
- Put the pot on a plate or bowl.
- Keep the pot wet
- Ideally keep the pot in a warm spot
- Cover with saran wrap or plastic until the seeds spout
- Remove the plastic
- Keep the pot in a sunny area inside
- Before transplanting, first harden off by having plant outside (not in direct sun) for a few hours each day
- When planting, get bottom wet and tear it off so roots will go into ground; also tear off top of pot to soil line
- Plant so all of pot is covered by soil and water.

Ms. Chaides' 4th Graders Plant in Recycled Pots

Yesterday Ms. Chaides' 4th graders planted seeds in recycled pots in honor of Earth Day. They chose from biodegradable peat pots and cardboard egg cartons.  Some of the favorite seeds were carrots, watermelons, pumpkins and tomatoes.

The procedure:
1) Pick a pot
2) Put in seedling mix
3) Choose seeds. The kids chose from seeds donated by Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Renee's, High Mowing Seeds and Turtle Tree.
4) Plant seed twice its diameter.
5) Water gently


At home:
1) Water so soil and pot are wet
2) Place on plate or in bowl to keep bottom moist and protect counter,
3) Cover with saran wrap if wished to speed up germination. Remove wrap upon germination
4) Keep in warm spot. When germinated, keep in bright area.
5) Transplant when 3 sets of leaves. Move to larger pots before if plants are too crowded and all have germinated.
 6) Harden off before planting outside, i.e, put seedlings outside for a few hours each day for about 4 days-place in shade-this gets them used to their new environment.
7) Before planting, cut off bottom and any of pot above soil. Plant pot at level of soil or just underneath so all of pot is covered. Cutting off  bottom will allow roots to grow down.
8) If using egg cartons, make large hole in bottom before planting.

Another alternative: plant pot directly in ground or larger pot before seeds germinate. If doing so, cut off bottom. Make sure to keep seeds moist.


They also planted some onion seeds in the 4th grade pizza garden.

Ms. Palo's Class Plants in the Pizza Garden

Last week Ms. Palo's 4th graders added some basil seedlings and some arugula seeds to the 4th grade pizza garden. There is already basil and onions growing that Ms. Chaides' class planted as well as tomatoes and kale.

The students also planted seeds in pots make from recycled cardboard that they will take home and then transplant into gardens or pots. The pots will decompose or decay with the moisture. The children placed seedling mix in the pots.

Care for the seedlings: keep pots and soil moist, place pot on plate or in bowl to keep soil moist from the bottom up, if pot is dry  that will wick away moisture from the soil. If you want to speed up germination, cover the pot with saran wrap for a hothouse effect until the seeds germinate.  When the seeds have three sets of leaves, harden off before transplanting outside. That means, for about 3 days, keep outside in shade for increasing amounts of time for the plant to get used to the new environment. (This obviously isn't necessary if you're keeping the plant inside. You'll want to plant it in another pot, though). Before transplanting, take off or tear the bottom of the pot so the roots will grow down.