Objective 2.4: Habitat Restoration
Rice Rangers
On March 20, 2014, students from Mr. Leonard's 8th grade science classes worked with Chris and Lillian from the Anacostia Watershed Society to grow native wetland plants inside the classroom. The students mixed the dirt, planted the seeds, and took care of the plants for 2 months before planting them in a wetland restoration site at Kenniworth Marsh in Washington, DC.
Native Plants Along the courtyard streambed
Over the summer of 2014 students planted native plants along the new streambed in order to create new habitat for local fauna. One plant in particular was milkweed, which attracted migrating Monarchs in a matter of months! The photo to the right is of a Monarch butterfly chrysalis found on one of the newly planted milkweeds. A few months later in October of 2014, all four of Mrs. Levine's 8th grade science classes added additional native plants, such as bee balm, to the streambed. Bee balm and the other natives planted attract lots of local pollinators during flowering season!
The front of the school and the courtyard get a native garden
In the summer of 2014 students dug up a rectangular patch of grass in the courtyard, laid down compost, and spread a mix of wildflower seeds to create garden space that currently serves as a native wildflower garden. In October, students from Mrs. Levine's 8th grade science classes weeded the wildflower patch and planted more native plants in order to ensure the health of the garden. THe picture you see above are the students weeding around the wildflowers that successfully germinated from the summer in order to add to the new wildflower garden. In the spring of 2015, a new native garden will be planted by students in front of the school as well in a highly eroded area to attract native animals while also holding on to the dirt!