Plants: Watch Us Grow!

 

Bloomfield Hills Schools’ second grade students have been studying plants all year long, but lately they have been getting their hands dirty at Bowers Farm during spring field trips, exploring the science behind plants. Plants are the backbone of agriculture in the world, and also of the environment. But how do they start and why do we see plants popping up where they did not get planted? Bowers Farm staff help students explore what plants need to thrive, climate and weather impact, biodiversity importance, the food they provide, and how to manage unwanted species.  

During a plant dissection lab, students experienced and investigated some of the crops that are growing at Bowers Farm. Using scientific practices and tools to get up close and personal with an alstroemeria flower and a sugar snap pea pod, one student exclaimed, “There’s a pea inside my pea!” pointing to the tiny plant inside. Students also planted, harvested, and tasted a variety of microgreens, which are nutrient dense superfoods. Some students fed the chickens the leftovers. 

Bloomfield Hills Schools’ budding botanists toured the greenhouse and hoop house to learn about crop production and plant care. Students also learned about succession planning, which allows crops to continue to grow. They transplanted lettuce seedlings and sprinkled seeds in lettuce bowls that they could take back to their classrooms for continued study.

To further learn about plants, students participated in a seed dispersal game to understand how seeds are moved; animals, humans, wind, water, gravity, and explosions are some examples. Outside in the education garden space, students investigated and found “helpers,” such as worms and pollinators, in the garden. Animals and items that may hinder garden growth, such as animals that dig and eat plants, or moths that feed on leaves, were also sought out.  

In the raised garden beds, students planted seedlings that will grow and be harvested during the summer. Some of these crops will be fed to the animals onsite, which staff discussed as the students visited the barns. 

The hands-on experiences provided at Bowers Farm are truly invaluable to these young learners as they gain a deeper understanding of the vital role plants and farmers play in our lives.