When Sue Wilson, Academic Service Learning coordinator for Clarkston Community Schools, organized a project for her students, she knew what to do.
‘I’ve had a relationship with Margaret Bartos (directos, Independence Township Senior Center) for many years doing projects and I knew they had built a new Senior Center, so I wanted to do something here at the center,? said Wilson.
About 115 Sashabaw Middle School seventh graders planted seedlings around the senior center May 21, and read poetry to seniors.
‘I think it’s really fulfilling experience. It makes us feel good and obviously makes the seniors feel even better,? said student Creed Blankenship. ‘It’s really good that our work is being appreciated by other people besides our classmates and that we get to share it with other people.?
Wilson worked with teacher Amy Blair to give their students a project that would include both academics and community service.
When they found out Bartos needed plants and flowers for planter boxes around the center, Wilson contacted Carolyn Morrison, a master gardener to come and talk to the middle school science classes.
‘She came and talked to our classes about the whole plant process, the seeds, and how the plant grows,? said Wilson.
The students did an experiment, comparing their plants as they grew under ‘grow lights? versus natural light, said Morrison.
‘We transplanted them as they got larger, today is the culmination of the effort of about two months,? she said. ‘They are now seedlings and they’re going to be flowers.?
Wilson incorporated Language Arts into the project by having all the students do research on a different plant or flower and then write a poem from their research.
‘I learned a lot about flowers when we did our research and also when the master gardener came in and showed us the proper way to plant flowers,? said student Erika Hahne.
The students read their poems to the seniors and presented the senior center with a book of all their poems.
‘It was a good opportunity for them to come out here and spend time with the seniors, interact with them and give back to the community, which I think is important for them to do too,? said Wilson. ‘It helps them to learn about being a volunteer. Hopefully they will build upon that as they get older and look for more opportunities. It’s been a very positive experience for them so far.?