Students at Amber Terrace, Cockrell Hill, and The Meadows elementary schools learned the value of where food comes from through a unique school project.
The garden revitalization project, sponsored by WIPRO at the University of North Texas at Dallas, educated PreK through 5th-grade students about the origins of food and the importance of healthy eating habits.
The program incorporated both hydroponic and traditional outdoor gardening methods, allowing students to engage in hands-on learning experiences.
The hydroponic system, which grows plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil, provided an up-close view of plant root development and the overall life cycle of plants.
Meanwhile, the outdoor garden exposed students to conventional gardening practices, including soil preparation, seed planting, weeding, and watering.
Throughout the year, students cultivated a variety of plants and observed their growth from seeds to maturity.
Through their efforts and methods of gardening, the students were able to harvest fresh produce, including tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens.
The harvest reinforced lessons on plant care and growth and supplied healthy food for students’ families.
At the end of the harvest, students even provided DeSoto ISD superintendent Dr. Usumah Rodgers with some of the produce from the students.
Rogers praised the program’s success in fostering an interest in gardening, nutrition, and environmental stewardship among DeSoto’s youngest learners.
The school district is said to be eager to continue this initiative in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, further nurturing the development of green thumbs among students.
For more information and to view a photo album of the project, click here.
M. Grace Alvarez