home

=VSE Mission Garden Project= This project belongs to the 2011/12 4th grade at Valley Springs Elementary School in Valley Springs, California. Studying California missions is a core subject in 4th grade. The aim of this project is to give 4th graders a greater understanding of life in the California missions by planning, creating and maintaining a garden from that time.

Teachers would assess student performance in the following areas throughout the academic year:
 * Incorporation of concepts learned from the garden project about the California missions in their writing, speaking, sharing and oral presentations
 * Students enthusiasm and knowledge of science and nutrition
 * Connections made between the experiences of the students in creating and maintaining the school mission garden and related texts, curriculum, standards, stories, etc.
 * Students school spirit and feeling of connection to the school.

With guidance from teachers and a Calaveras Master Gardener, 4th grade students will design the layout of the garden, including bed shape and size. This supports learning concepts in research skills, math, decision-making and teamwork.

In 2012, Calaveras Unified School District Education Foundation awarded our team a grant to help fund our new garden.

On 8 March, Norman’s Nursery in Linden donated the majority of the plants for the garden including roses, lavendar, grasses, rosemary, salvia, jasmine, rudbeckia and 40 boxwood to form the hedges. Our students made a wonderful booklet full of thank-you letters and drawings of their new garden. Photo

The Plan
See Our Plan Project Timeline

How You Can Help

 * Donate materials
 * Volunteer your time

For more information, contact Mrs Randall at 209 754 2140 or Odile Morrison at 209 772 2432 or odmo@comcast.net