Generals Go Green: A SIG Mini-Grant Partially Funds the Garden Project at Washington Prep

Using a SIG Mini-Grant to help fund their efforts, six Washington Prep teachers wrote Common Core based lessons and units as part of a project to bring a garden back to life on the campus of Washington Prep High School last spring and early summer.

Washington Prep teachers, Maria Campos, Carmen Cazares, Emmanuel Chukwuma, James Evans, Lorena Marquez and Kelsey Meek worked together to align their class curriculum with the Common Core State Standards into thematic lessons and units in Science, Algebra I and Geometry, and Social Studies during the months of April, May and June 2015.

“Our project was simple,” said Evans. “We wanted to engage students in using the Common Core Standards while incorporating rigorous, differentiated activities that allows us to bring awareness and life to our garden and campus.”

As part of the group’s outreach to parents, the garden was used to “showcase” student work throughout the semester. The “showcase” included students and teachers decorating the outside area, setting up teacher areas with materials, lessons and culminating activities.

“This project was a perfect way for us to engage our parents in their children’s learning,” said Evans. “Showcasing student work also allowed administrators, teachers, students and parents an opportunity to understand the concept of standards and give them a chance to ask relevant questions and commune in a stress free environment.”

The teachers hope to see the garden area become a community area, where students and staff can come together and enjoy nature.