Palmer Trinity School

The Pothos Project By Natalia Zurcher, MS Science and 6 th Grade Lead Advisor THIS PAS T Y E A R , sixth grade students at Palmer Trinity School partnered with Kerry Schabacker, from A Plant in Every Classroom, to grow Pothos plants and donate them to schools in underserved communities with the dual goal of connecting those students and teachers to nature and improving their mental health. (While COVID-19 rules prevented our students from being able to donate their plants to schools in Miami-Dade County, they were able to donate them to two charitable foster care organizations instead: the Center for Family and Child Enrichment [CFCE] and His House Children's Home.) Between a lengthy global pandemic and increased social unrest, stress and anxiety have increased over the last year. Educators and students have had to quickly adapt to a different pace, new technology and out-of-the-box methods of teaching and studying. Our mental health has become a topic of concern in these hectic times, making it even more important for us to understand the many benefits that nature has to offer. Scientific studies have shown that plants have a positive effect on students and teachers. For example, did you know that just looking at a plant for 40 seconds can significantly improve the sustained attention of an individual, and therefore positively impact their cognitive functioning? Plants help ease stress, improve focus and attention and create a culture of health. Experiential learning is crucial for students, as it helps them develop scientific knowledge associated with their own experiences and recognize how science can inform solutions and personal decision-making. By creating a project-based learning opportunity that included hands-on learning and service living, "The Pothos Project" gave students an opportunity to engage in the learning process, practice active participation and learn about the benefits of growing plants. Pothos plants are perfect for any classroom (at-home or otherwise!) because they are low light, low allergy, low toxicity, and low water plants that are easy to care for. For The Pothos Project, sixth grade students were tasked with the challenge of growing a Pothos plant at home. They had to collect and propagate their own Pothos cuttings, plant them in soil, research the best way to care for them, and document their experience on a website of their creation. Throughout the project, students measured and recorded data, monitored the growth and health of their Pothos plant and used analytical skills to answer a series of discussion questions that encouraged them to connect the health of their Pothos plant to different concepts learned in class. To end the project, each student had to write a letter to the charitable organization that adopted his or her plant. In it, they were asked to share their own personal experience growing the Pothos plant and the benefits of having a plant in any learning area. As a science teacher, it has always been my hope to use science literacy as a channel to instill empathy and socio-environmental responsibility in my students. Because of The Pothos Project, fifty plants were donated to the Center for Family and Child Enrichment (CFCE) and His House Children's Home. I am proud of our sixth grade class, and I am filled with joy and gratitude knowing others can now also enjoy a healthier learning space and gain from the mental health benefits nature has to offer. To learn more about A Plant in Every Classroom, visit www.aplantineveryclassroom.org. palmertrinity.org 10 BIRD'S EYE VIEW

• Cover