The week or so after honoring week is traditionally a time to wrap up in the fourth and fifth grades at Prairie Creek. We reflect on the work we did on the personal project and we honor the work of others by writing letters to each other. We prepare for conferences and write about how we have grown over the past year.
But this year, instead of taking a breather, the Herons chose to launch several new themes. I am astonished by their energy and their initiative. I hope I can keep up.
A crew of students has decided to create a newspaper. The idea came at about 2pm several days ago and by dismissal an entire staff had been assembled and story assignments handed out. Students asked to use the iPad to record interviews they were conducting with teachers about class pets. (It's as though they had read this recent compelling argument for technology in the classroom) They also did some investigative reporting about some missing sushi erasers. The first edition has yet to come out (alas, production can be difficult when you don't touch type) but the editor assures me they are on track for their publication deadline. Cathy, Amy and I are hoping they take their noses for news into village — the federal government often pays handsomely for newspaper reporting.
Not satisfied with just one new theme, the Herons have begun to dream and plan a roof garden. Inspired by a mention of cucumber frames in Alice in Wonderland, the Herons came up with a spontaneous list of what they would put on our roof – eggplants, potatoes, strawberries, a pond, chickens, bee hives…the list went on. Several students did some initial research to find out what kinds of plants might grow on our roof. They measured the space we might have and brainstormed a few ideas.
Today, Josie Rawson (a Heron parent who also has a master gardener certification) came in to answer students' questions. We are right at the beginning of our process so I wasn't sure what to expect but it was a wonderful conversation. Students asked Josie questions about what kinds of plants might grow well and she helped them identify possible challenges of our roof space as well as its advantages (turns out it's perfect for growing native cacti.) We have a plan to collect data to help us figure out what environment we have and which plants might thrive.
At one point, Josie mentioned the humble plant "Hens and Chicks" as something that might be impossible to kill. The Herons got very excited. More details were uncovered. This miraculous plant thrives in drought conditions, needs very little soil, can take being soaked from time to time, likes temperatures from below zero to 125 degrees. It just got better and better. Then they found out that the plant reproduces by making little replicas of itself, can be divided every month or so and sometimes even has the "chicks' fall off and blow to a new location where they take root.
Plans firmed up. Maybe we could each have a little trial garden to put our plants in. Maybe a mentor and a mentee could share a plot. Maybe we could make books with our planting experiments and those could be passed down along with the plots to new Herons. Maybe when 5th graders graduated they could get some a cutting of the Hens and Chicks to start a new garden.
Plans got bigger. Maybe we should put a track in so we could move the different plots closer to the windows for care. Maybe we could put in a fence so we could go out on the roof (we'll contact the insurance company about that plan.) Maybe we could put in some rain barrels. Maybe we can make a system to direct the water off the roof.
One student asked excitedly at the end of the day, "Is this our new theme?!?" "Sure…" I said, thinking about Village which is starting on Monday. Usually that is all consuming but if any group could make our roof garden trial work it's this one.
Looks like we're in for an exciting May.
The Rookery 
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