Growing Minds and Plants: Georgetown Community School’s Innovative Hydroponic Tower 

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The third-grade classroom at Georgetown Community School has transformed into a thriving indoor garden, thanks to an Explorers Innovation Grant from the Clear Creek Schools Foundation. Teacher Lorray Singmaster has created an innovative learning environment where students experience hands-on lessons in sustainability, agriculture, and environmental stewardship.

"The idea started when we got our new cafeteria," Singmaster explains. "I wanted to show kids how to grow and appreciate the grow process." The classroom now features a Hydroponic Grow Tower system, complemented by an innovative composting operation that puts cafeteria waste to good use.

Three large worm containers form the backbone of the classroom's composting system, where students learn about decomposition and soil enrichment. The worm population has shown remarkable success, tripling in size since last school year. This thriving worm colony demonstrates to students the circular nature of sustainable agriculture.

The classroom's aquaponics setup above the fish tank provides another dimension to the learning experience. "We utilize the fish waste to fertilize the plants," Singmaster notes, showing students how natural systems can work together efficiently.

Students have already experienced numerous successes with their growing projects. Each student had the opportunity to grow their own Pueblo chile pepper plant from seed to harvest, literally enjoying the fruits of their labor. The class also grows mint above the fish tank, and students have shown entrepreneurial spirit by creating and selling pressed flower bookmarks at the annual Georgetown Christmas Market.

While Georgetown Elementary School has added a salad bar to their lunch offerings, Singmaster has bigger dreams for the lunch program. "A future goal is to grow greens for the salad bar in the lunchroom," she shares. Currently, while yields are too low for cafeteria use, students enjoy making recipes with their harvest in the classroom as homemade pizzas featuring the freshly grown ingredients.  

The impact of this program extends beyond just growing plants. Students are learning valuable lessons about farm-to-table concepts, the importance of buying local, and water conservation. The project has sparked new excitement around plant science and helped foster a new generation of "eco-warriors."

Looking to the future, Singmaster imagines adding a greenhouse between buildings, which would expand the program's capabilities and provide even more learning opportunities for students.

This innovative project, made possible through the CCSF Explorers Innovation Grant, demonstrates how hands-on learning experiences can cultivate not just plants, but also young minds eager to understand and protect our environment.

Casa De Paz: Cultural Appreciation and the Learner Profile

By Sophie Egan, Carlson Elementary 5th Grade Teacher 

On October 24th, Carlson Elementary School 5th graders took their annual field trip to Casa De Paz which ties in nicely to their Exploratory Learning (EL) Module 1 on Human Rights and novel Esperanza Rising  by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Casa De Paz is a stop for Immigrants after they are released from a nearby detention center. Casa De Paz offers a place to rest, clean clothes, showers, phones to use, snacks, personal hygiene care packages and cords for cell phones, as those are taken away by ICE while they are in detention.  Their guests are only allowed to visit once and they are not able to take anyone overnight.  They allow a respite for immigrants before they start the next leg of their journey. 

Sophie’s thoughts: 

The field trip was very successful.  It really took the kids out of their comfort zone and made them realize that Human Rights are still being violated, even here in the United States, not to mention Colorado.  It was inspiring to know that we were helping people who really needed help.  One gentleman even came in for services while we were there.  The kids were very timid around him, but he knew English and was excited to see the kids.  He was showing everyone pictures of his family that lives here in the United States.  This experience made us all feel very lucky to have what we have.