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The students of SAE have studied, maintained, and planted the Native plants that are in our Pollinator and Woodland Habitats since May of 2003. Each year we select one representative from each of the 30 classrooms of South Allegheny Elementary. We also select an alternate from each of the classrooms. We then have representatives from grades two through six. These students meet as an extra class during and after school. They are also asked to meet on a voluntary basis over the summer. Each of the representatives or alternates take notes about the plants and experiments in a shared notebook. These notes are then used to report to the other students each of the classrooms. The representatives are considered the experts as each of the classrooms go outside to study the plants and animals in the two outdoor classrooms. Teachers are excited about using the outside classrooms as an opportunity to connect nature to all the other subjects.
Finding the Camassia (my way) by Madeline King While hiking in Utah, I could see a beautiful blue plant. The petals were soft to the touch. Its sky blue color staring at me. I could not help but take the plant home. As I reached for it, I thought: What if others cannot see this beautiful plant because I'm about to keep it to myself? I didn't take it home, but sketched it and thought about it all the time. I called it Camassia.
Camassia by Madeline King The camassia plant is a genus of six species native to western North America. Back then, it was thought that it belonged to the lily family, the Scilloideae family, or the Hyacinthinaceae family. But, with the DNA testings and the biochemical studies, it was found out that it was a part of the family Agavaceae. Common names include Camas, Quamash, Indian Hyacinth, and Wild Hyacinth.
Harmony Habitats Helping the earth all the time A group with a big heart Rising to the top each year Making every bulb's home with care Observing plants, bulbs, birds, and other creatures Never quitting on the team You can help us make a difference with the schoolyard.
Hello little creatures. We Are helping you By making a better home and giving you lots of food. Interesting things will happen to your environment. Telling others about the group. Maybe they will join, too. Always helping The earth: your home. So don't be afraid, we mean no harm, we're the Harmony Habitats by Madeline King
We discussed how the camassia were admired and written about by Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark set on an expedition on May 12, 1804 and went to October 1804. The second expedition went from April to December 1805. The Native American Sacagawea helped them on their second expedition. They returned home in 1806. by Tyler Hickman Early explorers were amazed when they saw fields of camas in bloom. Meriwether Lewis in a description of this plant, wrote in June of 1806, that they stretched out like “lakes of fine clear water.”
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Student Reflections