Liz Wing’s fourth graders learned a little Native American history and did a some math computing last week. We were given 22 heirloom squash seeds, donated by a member of the Seneca Nation. If we needed to plant four seeds per hill, how many hills would we need to create? This  challenged some students to think of creative ways to show how they  solved the problem. Often at school, explaining a problem’s solution  is more important than how quickly the answer is obtained.

Now that we’re into June, there shouldn’t be a danger of frost (we hope) and it’s time to plant a few warmer weather crops. This year’s new additions are Valencia peanuts, a variety known to produce well in cooler climates. They came in the mail as shelled peanuts and all Kindergartners dutifully planted them about 6 inches apart. in rows about 18 inches apart. They should be ready to harvest at the end of September. I’m hoping these same students will harvest them as First Graders. The Kindergarteners also reseeded the sunflower house. It will provide a welcome shady spot for reading and cooling off later in the summer.

Mr Cafferky’s fourth grade class took their cues from their classmate  (lower left) who wanted to create a market for marigolds. Independently she managed to collect recycled milk cartons and rinse them. She and her friends then transplanted marigold seedlings and put them near a sunny window in their classroom. The next week her signs were up and she was in business, selling marigolds and learning a few things in the process. (How much should I charge? How will I make change?  How much money will I make? How do I make an eye catching sign? Who will help me get started? How do I persist until grown-ups take me seriously?) Below are a few more photos of her team’s efforts.