4th Grade Tulip Test Garden

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• Schuylerville School District Green Ribbon School Project Team created a Tulip Test Garden with 4th Grade classes using guidelines provided by Journey North.  http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
• The purpose of this activity was to enhance the learning environment, supplement existing curriculum and allow the students to partake in a global study of seasonal change. One garden at a time, the relationship between climate, geography and the arrival of spring is revealed.
• The tulip test garden fostered involvement between students throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Students made observations in their own hometown, and watch the wave of spring as it moves across the globe.  Students, teachers and GRS volunteers created and maintained the space.
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• CORE CURRICULUM CONNECTION:
• NYS Living Environment Standard 1-Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions. Key Idea 3: The observations made while testing proposed explanations, when analyzed using conventional and invented methods, provide new insights into natural phenomena.
  
  
• PLANNING:

Register with Journey North.  http://www.learner.org/jnorth/.

Order red emperior tulips based on the number of students participating in the planting.

Prep garden and have tools, volunteers and soil available.

Prepare a brief presentation tied to curriculum.

Budget accordingly - The budget for this activity was $150 for the cost of Red Emperor tulips and the compost for the garden. 

EXECUTION: 

Plant the red emperior tulips according to Journey North guidelines.

Water and maintain the garden.

RESULTS:

Over 75% of the tulips emerged and bloomed.  The tulips were beautiful and the students were very proud that the above picture was featured as the Journey North Image of the Week and the students were given credit.

The tulip test garden was recorded through photographs, student observations and then reported online at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tulip/index.html. 

(Please note: all of GRS activities are also posted on the Schuylerville Green Ribbon School Project Facebook Page.)