Project Summary:

Pollination Garden

Morganton Day School is a private, International Baccalaureate elementary and middle school founded in 1978, in Morganton, North Carolina. Our mission is to inspire a community of learners through inquiry to achieve educational excellence.

We are proud to have a strong STEAM program which we would like to continue to grow as students are eager to design and implement high impact projects to improve the world around us. The KNCB WOO Grant is well-aligned with the MDS mission, and will support a worthy project to further science curriculum, care for our planet, and service to our community.

For their final Community Action Project (CAP) of the year, our middle school students have collaborated and proposed to transform an unused, and currently unsightly, outdoor space on our campus into a Pollination Garden. Weeks of research regarding the types of plant and trees (host as well as nectar), layout, and other resources needed to support the butterflies and hummingbirds they wish to attract to their garden have been completed to facilitate the project design and grant application, The space will also include stone pathways, bird and butterfly feeders, ornaments and decorations, and places to gather and sit.

This project will provide an exciting and impactful hands-on opportunity for our students – not only through the research, design, and creation of garden, but for the continued work to maintain and observe the life cycles of the plants and insects growing in it.

The Pollination Garden will provide ongoing learning experiences for our entire student body – both our elementary and middle school populations, aligned with multiple NC standards in our science curriculum.

Learning Objectives include:

Understanding the process of pollination
Identifying different types of pollinators
Recognizing plant characteristics that attract specific pollinators
Appreciating the interdependence between plants and pollinators
Learning about the importance of pollinator conservation for our ecosystem
Applying knowledge to design and maintain a pollinator-friendly garden space

In addition, the following science standards will be supported by this project:

Observation and recording data
Scientific inquiry
Community engagement
Sharing knowledge with others

Students will carry forward the responsibility of caring for garden, including watering, weeding, pruning, refilling hummingbird and butterfly feeders, etc. They will also be tasked with tracking and documenting detailed observations on the growth and development of the butterflies through multiple life cycles. They will also be expected to present updates and findings to the entire school community.

Finally, this garden will serve not only as an outdoor classroom, but also as community gathering space, and place for students and staff to relax, self-regulate, connect with nature, and enjoy.