West Fannin Elementary Grows its STEM Program

West Fannin Elem

As the children at West Fannin Elementary grow, they will be able to grow their own plants in a greenhouse.

Growing plants at West Fannin is not a new thing, however; it was done last year in six raised beds outside and lettuce that was grown there was used in the cafeteria. This year, the same raised beds are being used by 4th and 5th grade classrooms to grow kale, carrots, spinach, and radishes.

Raised boxes used to grow vegetables at West Fannin Elementary School

Raised boxes used to grow vegetables at West Fannin Elementary School

The greenhouse has already been built using Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) money. SPLOST money will also be used to build an extension to an existing pavilion near the greenhouse that can be used as an outdoor classroom. The greenhouse is not in use quite yet, however; water has been hooked up to it, but no power has been connected.

 

Principal Robert Ensley hopes to use the greenhouse to grow plants for fundraisers and for learning opportunities for an Agriculture feeder program and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related activities. Ensley would like to expose students to “real-life examples” of using science and math.

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The STEM initiatives at West Fannin don’t stop with the greenhouse. A STEM related activity has been planned for every month this school year, as well as major training for teachers to incorporate STEM into the classroom.

 

Principal Ensley also hopes to have other outdoor STEM related activities at West Fannin in the future, such as restoring the nature trail with the help of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Ensley thinks the Tennessee Valley Authority would be an excellent partner because the trail is located on the Toccoa River watershed. He hopes to put an outdoor classroom near the stream where students can learn about anything from trees to water quality (which students are learning about this year). He would like to also invest in outdoor cameras for animal watching and a 10-15 tree apple orchard. The school is in the process of scouting a location for the orchard.

 

As West Fannin grows its STEM program, it is clear students will be able to grow their math and science skills in a real life context.

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Interior of the new greenhouse

 

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