Cicely Tyson School Principal John English supports a planting initiative at the school.
EAST ORANGE, NJ — Marrying lessons with hands-on projects is what teacher Paulette Thompson does best. Thompson, a mild cognitive impairment teacher for grades six through eight at the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing Arts in East Orange, had her students plant hostas as part of a culminating activity for a science lesson.
“In class we studied the Green Belt Movement in Africa and the work of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Wangari Maathai. We also studied the work of a young Swedish environmentalist, Ms. Greta Thunberg, who is making the world aware of the challenges of climate change. The importance of respecting the environment and how everything is connected was also illuminated,” Thompson said. “My students are tactile learners so I like to expose them to hands-on learning experiences that are academically very sound and that I think will be beneficial to them.”
As a master gardener, certified by Cornell University, Thompson’s original plan was to plant the hostas in the front of the school for greatest visual appeal. These plans were quickly couched when efforts to dig holes in the ground were met with resistance.
“We kept hitting rock. Rock, rock, rock,” she said, adding that, undeterred, “we were determined to add some greenery around the school.”
Finding the right location on school grounds was the immediate dilemma. Fortunately, an alternative planting location suggested by one of the school’s security officers appealed to Thompson.
“I learned that there was a bare spot in the back of the school. Can you think of a better way to beautify a bare spot than with plants?” she said. “It’s an area that kids walk across as a shortcut to access the building.”
With final approval from Principal John English, Thompson and her students went to work.
“Mr. English said the plants would help deter students from cutting across,” Thompson joked.
In preparation for the planting sessions, Thompson repurposed a book cart with wheels and loaded it with planting soil, works gloves, the plants and gardening tools, including some from home.
“This activity is also a good way of giving back. Students appreciate where they’re going to school. It’s important to give something back to the school and the community. It’s a positive experience,” she said. “We had lessons all day in class, feeding our souls and brains, and we brought that mindset outdoors. Everything lined up perfectly, it worked beautifully.”
Sixth-grader David Hernandez, age 12, planted three hostas and said, “It was fun. I put on rubber gloves and dug a hole with a Dutch hoe and put the plants in. I also made sure the roots of the plants were not jumbled. It looked nice.”
Similarly, eighth-grader Karen Velasquez, age 13, enjoyed the experience, saying, “It’s great. I participated last year too. I dug holes, planted seeds in the hole, put the potting soil around the plants and watered them. I’m happy.”
Lastly, sixth-grader Chioma Egenti, age 11, commented, “I love planting. I got to grow plants. It was good.” Egenti plans to become a teacher when she grows up, just like Thompson.
“Ms. Thompson’s students have been involved in planting for the last several years, from a hydroponic system in the classroom to working in the garden across from the school,” English said. “I am all for projects that involve our students and the beautification of the building or grounds. These initiatives help our students take ownership and pride in their school. I think that it’s really, really good.”
Photos Courtesy of Mirvetk Tonuzi
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