Portsmouth students learning how their garden grows

Hathaway Habitat nurtures critical thinking, appreciation for nature

By Jim McGaw
Posted 6/20/19

PORTSMOUTH — Karen Moore never had the privilege of meeting her great-grandfather, Howard Hathaway, whose name is on the very school where she teaches.

She was, however, fortunate to …

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Portsmouth students learning how their garden grows

Hathaway Habitat nurtures critical thinking, appreciation for nature

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Karen Moore never had the privilege of meeting her great-grandfather, Howard Hathaway, whose name is on the very school where she teaches.

She was, however, fortunate to grow up on his property in Portsmouth, where the family’s apple and peach orchards were once located.

“One of my fondest memories as a child was that of a giant garden which was shared by my entire family,” Ms. Moore said. “The garden brought our family together, whether it was time to plant, pick vegetables or pumpkins, or just to sit and enjoy the treasures of the land.”

Now the elementary school has a garden of its own: The Hathaway Habitat, located in the large field on the building’s east side, was unveiled recently during a ceremony attended by students, teachers, administrators and other school officials.

The garden, which is intended to be part of a larger outdoor classroom similar to the one at Melville School, was made possible through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant that Ms. Moore learned about last year. Ms. Moore pursued the grant, which includes professional development and curriculum resources provided by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and in October 2018 Hathaway learned it had been chosen as a 2018-2019 partner school in the Rhode Island Schoolyard Habitat Program.

Hathaway is one of three schools in Rhode Island that have opened a habitat so far, and the goal is to establish six by next year, according to Cynthia Corsair, biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The school also joins a larger network of 500 certified schoolyard habitats nationwide, she said.

The habitats are integrated into the curriculum and “benefit both people and wildlife,” Ms. Corsair said. They can be used for “authentic and engaged learning” including year-round research, quiet reflection, reading and writing and unstructured play or exploration. 

Hathaway Principal Lisa Little said the habitat will allow teachers to “make lots of connections, not only to science but every other content area that you have.”

The habitats also serve an important ecological role as they provide spots for migrating songbirds to rest and refuel, and support pollinators such as butterflies and bees, Ms. Corsair said.

Added Lauren Parmelee, director of education for the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, “You are going to be amazed at the types of birds and animals like insects and maybe even some mammals that will visit your habitat because you created it.” She also said the garden will also serve as a model for the wider community.

Students heavily involved

Once the school won the habitat grant, a committee made up of teachers, school staff and parents hit the ground running — brainstorming ideas and reaching out to local businesses for support, Ms. Little said. 

It became clear that the “best people to get involved,” however, were the students, she said.

“We prepared for our site assessment by having our kindergarteners gather soil, and we sent those samples out to be analyzed,” Ms. Little said. “First grade came out and explored the shade and sun areas. Second grade did some exploring and took a look at erosion, standing water and drainage. Our third- and fourth-graders helped spread the compost and the fourth grade reviewed the topography and drew maps for the planning.”

Ms. Moore tapped into talents of Hathaway art teacher Sandra Warshauer, who designed the garden’s sign, and Matt Murphy, the district’s director of facilities, worked tirelessly on the project, she said. The rocks in the garden were painted by students in art class, and the birdhouses were donated by local Girl Scouts. Many parents came out for planting day, when several native species were sunk into the ground.

“Three hours and our habitat was full of the plants you see here today,” said Ms. Little, noting that the school needs volunteers to help water the plants over the summer and on weekends during the school year. “It is an awesome feeling to be a part of something that will be the future of Hathaway School.”

The habitat will involve “learning mixed in with a lot of fun,” Superintendent of Schools Ana Riley said. “I can’t wait to see what these plants look like when you come back in August. We’ll have to take some good measurements to see how much they grow.”

‘Everything you need’

There is something special about outdoor learning, Ms. Moore said.

“In these last few month, I have witnessed firsthand the magic that happens when you give a child a shovel, a rake, some soil, a wheelbarrow, an apron, gardening gloves, a plant or even a hose.”

She quoted the ancient Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, who said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

“Well, Hathaway School,” Ms. Moore told students, “you have an incredible library and now you have a garden. We do have everything we need to play, learn and grow together.”

Hathaway School, Audubon Society

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