The Process of Making/Implementing
the Use of Our Greenhouse
Page 1

This aspect of the project was initiated by a discussion for plants to landscape the school area.

The students had been involved in permaculture techniques and saw how a cold-box could be used to enhance plant growth. The teaching strategy of concept webbing was incorporated to generate ideas. The basic question used as the focal point for the web was – How do we get plants to landscape the STAR School campus?

This technique generated considerable verbalization concerning our need to get foliage to landscape the campus.

Through the outreach of the community, Chuck McDougal and Patrick Grant worked with Dr. Mark Sorensen to procure funds and to build a greenhouse on the school campus. The plan was first used and refined at Chuck’s home. Once Chuck felt he had a working plan, we scheduled the beginning time and date for our greenhouse.

With materials and workable plans, Chuck, Pat and friends came to the school site to help the parents, students and staff began building the greenhouse. As documented with the picture to the left, Chuck began with a detailed explanation of the materials to be used and the building process. At this time, the

students were divided into work teams with specific assignments. Students had the options of preparing the bubble wrap, collecting the stones for flooring material, sizing fine mesh screening, etc. Giving students an option to choose provides for meaningful learning, due to fact that students are buying into the activity. (This idea will be discussed later in the evaluation section.)

The following pictures depict student choices and the activities they chose.

We helped bring rocks from the rock pile. The rocks will be used to make the floor of the greenhouse.

Next Page