More than 100 third-graders spent Friday learning about plants, birds, turtles and migration at The Gardens at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Four classes from Columbus Elementary School in Edwardsville visited The Gardens on Arbor Day for some nature-based activities and a time of fun.
“I like to garden,” said Sela Shallow, nine-year-old daughter of Monica Shallow, who accompanied the group on the field trip as a parent volunteer.
“I like to garden, too,” nine-year-old Aryanna Hudson chimed in. “I help my grandma plant and garden in the summer.”
The two girls were with a group led by third-grade teacher Karen Cline. Students were divided into eight groups and sent out to explore the four different stations in the park, according to Jane Drake, director of The Gardens. About 15 people from SIUE and the community volunteered to help work at the stations. The names of the stations and what they pertained to included:
• Fill the Bill was the station where students learned about birds with a focus on how different beaks are adapted for specific food types. Obviously a hummingbird’s diet is much different that that of an owl or a cardinal. Students learned about natural variation through trying a series of tools and feeding scenarios
• Migration Challenge taught students about the challenges of migration. According to Dan Mueller, The Gardens park supervisor, nearly 350 different species of birds migrate through our area annually. Students played the roles of common migrating birds. They “flew” to various locations that highlighted the good (finding food, tailwinds) and the bad (predation and food shortages). Students leave with a better understanding of how they can support migrating birds around their own homes.
• Turtle Talk informed students about various facts concerning turtles. Students got to handle the shells of two types of native turtles and explore Turtle Pond.
• Leaf Prints incorporated a lesson on the benefits of trees. Once students had explored different leaf types, they used paint to create unique leaf prints on cardstock to take home.
Teachers accompanying the students on the field trip were Cindy Cassens-Mickle, Karen Cline, Stephanie Raz and Megan Mulcahy.
“We are working on the unit, ‘Lakes, Ponds, Rivers and Streams’ in our science classes,” said Cline. “We are also talking about ecosystems, the environment and pollution. “I hope the children will be able to understand how nature helps.”
Cassens-Mickle, who helped plan the field trip, said she is grateful that school principal, Vince Schlueter, made it possible for the classes to visit The Gardens.
“Jane Drake and I are hoping to make this an annual event on Arbor Day,” said Cassens-Mickle, an
SIUE alumnus. She received both her bachelor’s in Education and her master’s in Special Education from the University. “We want to better help children learn how trees, ponds and plants interact with our environment.”
“It’s been good hands-on learning for the students,” said Mulcahy.
Cassens-Mickle hopes the school can return for another field trip to The Gardens. “A lot of these students live in Edwardsville,” she said. “They can tell their parents, and can come back with them. It’s good for The Gardens, and it’s good for us.”
Drake said while the park is growing, she is still working to get the word out about the botanical garden. “The Gardens at SIUE is still one of the metro-East’s best kept secrets,” she said. “Our Arbor Day event is just one of several ways that we connect our community to this wonderful place.
The Gardens at SIUE
The Gardens at SIUE comprises existing woodlands, a pond, grasslands and an arboretum on a lush and rolling 35-acre site. The Gardens is a living laboratory dedicated to supporting the educational and research mission of the University. Environmental sustainability, conservation and stewardship are cornerstones of The Gardens’ vision, providing a unique opportunity to research, implement and demonstrate innovative green technologies. Gardens, facilities and amenities feature renewable, recycled and sustainably produced materials.
The mission of The Gardens at SIUE is to create a venue of beauty and distinction that will support the educational and research components of the University; that will engage the public in educational opportunity and campus life; and that will provide a haven for relaxation and enjoyment for all.
Photo Information: Third grade students at the “Leaf Prints” station, manned by Larry Werner, SIUE graduating senior majoring in biology. Students from left to right: Mia Heiser (daughter of Val Heiser in background), Bailey Krome, Kara Gilomen, Sela Shallow and Aryanna Hudson.
Volunteer parent Val Heiser helps her daughter Mia Heisere and Bailey Krome with their project at the Leaf Prints station.