Dec 21, 2021 2 min read

The School-Wide Enrichment Program at Streams Elementary School is blooming this year with the study of flowers.

“With the new science curriculum at the elementary level, we thought it would be great to build on the in-class plant science units by providing a special extension for all second- and third-grade students,” Mary Quinn, enrichment resource teacher, said.

Each of the nearly 200 students, who have been studying bulbs, had the opportunity to plant and nurture a paperwhite bulb.

“We have been using digital tools to capture their growth and reflect, and this week, the students have gorgeous plants to bring home to their families,” Quinn said.

Each class attended a weekly special session with Quinn and Sheila Gorgonio, technical instructional aide. In addition to caring for their bulbs, students learned the parts of a bulb including scales, roots, basal stem, bud, leaves and tunic.

“Students are expanding on what they have learned in the regular curriculum, and the amount of growth, in both students and plants, has been exciting,” Quinn reported.

This study of plants, appropriately named Flower Power, will continue and expand throughout the spring.

“We plan for this SWEP III study to continue for the rest of the year, with a focus on different kinds of plants and how they are grown,” Quinn said. “Our hope is to enhance the students’ learning and engage them in higher level thinking as we experiment and explore plant life.”

Funding for this project was provided by a grant from Tanger Outlets that was awarded to Lauren Bogus, Streams second-grade teacher, and a matching donation from Angela Petersen, an Upper St. Clair School Board member.