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Plant the Seed

School: Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School

City/State: Forest Hills, NY

Grade(s): 6

Format(s): Video: Project documentation

Subject(s): Health and Wellness, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies, Visual Arts

Project Overview

Sixth-grade students at MELS begin learning about food systems during their "Food Glorious Food" Expedition which includes extensive fieldwork to local farms and green spaces in New York City. This lays the foundation for continued learning in their "Transforming Cities" Expedition that includes studying Geometry in Math, materials and sustainability in Science, 2D blueprints and 3D models in Art, and democracy and grassroots movements in Humanities.

The garden showcased in this video is an authentic product from this expedition work as well as a grade-wide Intensives session. Having determined a need for the community garden, students were able to concentrate on creating one component of the garden during Intensives.  

How This Project Can Be Useful

  • An exemplary model of an authentic product that is the result of rich interdisciplinary (Math, Science, Humanities, Art) learning
  • Compelling topic that engages students and generates deeper learning
  • Great example of students and teachers working together to improve the world around them
  • High-quality interviews that showcase articulate student reflection
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