Mrs. Sanchez's class, also known as "The Hornet's Nest," has been learning about the life cycle and growth of plants as a part of their STEM activities. On March 12th, the students planted Rose of Sharon seeds so that they could track their growth over a period of a month before transplanting them and sending them home. At first, it did not look like they were going to have much luck, as the typical germination time is about two weeks. They were very happy to find that, after 25 days, there were a bunch of sprouts! Currently, they have nine Rose of Sharon growing successfully.

 

The students have also learned about the propagation of living plants by using a Spider Plant "Baby" that Mrs. Cleary generously donated to the room. They are currently soaking the roots in water over Spring Break, and are eager to see what they come back to find when school resumes.

 

As an added bonus, the class is also trying to grow bonsai trees! They know the likelihood of these seeds sprouting is slim, but they are hopeful!

 

In working with these materials, the students have experienced the life cycles of plants, the nutrients needed for plants to grow, proper care, and the fun of watching growth before their very eyes. They are looking forward to seeing what grows while they are away for a week!