Joy of Learning Grants 2026 by Sara Gardner

nmcmaster1 — 2026-04-28 15:58:44 UTC

Made my purchases yesterday!

A rack for yoga mats

Seeds

Class set of binoculars

Garden tools

Journals

Pencils

Storage Bins

We are very excited to get outside next week!

K1 Students Observing Butterflies

estanley2_17 — 2026-05-04 18:19:48 UTC

nmcmaster1 — 2026-05-06 16:29:57 UTC

6th Graders building their outdoor mindfulness tool kits this week. Starting with bags, binoculars, journals and pencils. Each week we will add to it. After 6th grade graduation, they will get to keep their tool kits!

agaulin1 — 2026-05-07 16:17:59 UTC

11-12th graders doing practice problems in chalk involving acid and base neutralization reactions. Afterwards, we did an experiment involving one of their practice problems, where we took chalk (a base) and sprayed lemon juice (an acid) and saw the products (H₂O and CO₂).

nmcmaster1 — 2026-05-13 12:49:49 UTC

6th grade mindfulness outside with chalk designs

nmcmaster1 — 2026-05-13 12:51:07 UTC

6th grade mindful outdoor observations with our new binoculars!

lkurtzstolbach — 2026-05-18 12:45:40 UTC

We started out with Dead Dirt!

lkurtzstolbach — 2026-05-18 12:50:35 UTC

Then the living Dirt arrived! Our whole community came together to help us put the new soil into the gardens. Eastie Farms lent us wheel barrows and barn shovels. Parents showed up and all the classes at the PJK helped throughout the day.

lkurtzstolbach — 2026-05-19 13:13:54 UTC

Planting clover for the bunnies.

lkurtzstolbach — 2026-05-19 13:15:39 UTC

Garden Icons to define the garden learning space

ccarey2_12 — 2026-05-23 15:15:58 UTC

These 24 stencils will make it easier for other educators to bring classes out to the garden. The two different colors and shapes allow teachers to easily split class into 1/2 or 1/4s.

🌱 Exploring Life Cycles! 🦋

mramirez5_24 — 2026-05-25 00:21:31 UTC

We have been on an exciting journey discovering how living things grow and change! Our young scientists started by exploring what is found inside a seed, then followed the incredible life cycle of a plant, and had the opportunity to plant a variety of seeds. 🌿

🌱 Exploring Life Cycles! 🦋

mramirez5_24 — 2026-05-25 00:24:02 UTC

We also learned why pollinators like butterflies play such an essential role in supporting plant life and our ecosystem. Now, we are taking our learning to the next level by exploring the life cycle of a butterfly. We have also had the wonderful opportunity to welcome caterpillars into our classroom, allowing students to observe their amazing transformation firsthand! 🐛

🌿 Taking Our Learning Outdoors — Transplanting Day!

mramirez5_24 — 2026-05-28 04:43:55 UTC

In partnership with our families, students had the wonderful opportunity to transplant their seedlings outdoors — a meaningful continuation of their learning as they witness the plant life cycle in action!

Outdoor Learning and Exploration with Curley K0/K1

lmoustati — 2026-05-28 15:25:11 UTC

We painted, dug, examined, and explored in our schoolyard in all kinds of weather!

More pictures

lmoustati — 2026-05-28 15:26:34 UTC

Beautifying our outdoor classroom by identifying and removing weeds!

estanley2_17 — 2026-05-31 23:57:27 UTC

Observing our ladybug release in the garden

estanley2_17 — 2026-05-31 23:58:02 UTC

Butterfly release!

estanley2_17 — 2026-06-01 00:00:10 UTC

Seed sorting

acoen5 — 2026-06-02 16:19:22 UTC

Tearing up weeds to compost

acoen5 — 2026-06-02 16:20:31 UTC

One of the flowering plants we planted.

acoen5 — 2026-06-02 16:21:27 UTC

Weeding and tilling

acoen5 — 2026-06-02 16:21:52 UTC

Planting some herbs

acoen5 — 2026-06-02 16:22:19 UTC

Composting

acoen5 — 2026-06-02 16:23:27 UTC

From LED Indoor Garden To Outdoor Raised Beds!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-03 22:44:52 UTC

Joy Of Learning Grant Project is in full effect! This is how we started our Ecology and Ecosystems Unit on March 31st. We will be studying animal and plant life and how they live in the ecosystem around us. We started with planting various seeds in our LED Indoor Greenhouses. We took notes and draw various stages of our fruit, vegetables, and flower’s growth and development. The Grant awarded by the, Friends of Boston Playground, has been a blessing. We were able to purchase the materials that we needed to be able to complete our outdoor learning. 4th-6th Grade has a spot to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers!!! This Definitely Brings Me And My Students Joy!!!!

Two Weeks Work Of Growth In The Classroom! Yay!!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-03 22:49:27 UTC

Our plants, vegetables, fruits, and flowers are growing wonderfully. They will be ready to transfer them outside when we come back from break, April 13th.

Measuring Our Plant Growth

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-03 23:19:36 UTC

On April 8th We Measured Our Plant Growth Using Measuring Tapes.

Sharing Our LED Indoor Gardens

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-03 23:27:24 UTC

On April 14th, I ended up having LED Indoor Garden Kits to share with the 4th and 5th grade classes. This is Mrs. Deo's 4th Grade Class! Thanks to the BPS Science Department. I was also able to supply soil, seeds, water cans, plant food, and labels. I was able to teach the lesson to three 4th grade classes, one 5th grade class and our 2nd Grade Community Buddies.

Mrs. Coronel's 5th Grade Class

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-03 23:33:10 UTC

These 5th graders were so excited to plants fruits and vegetables in their LED Gardens on April 17th.

Mrs. Anderson's 4th Grade Class

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-03 23:39:24 UTC

These students see me in the hallway ready to tell me about their their plant life and are excited to plant them outside.

Gardening in the pollinator garden!

acoen5 — 2026-06-04 00:09:26 UTC

Digging holes for the plants

acoen5 — 2026-06-04 00:09:58 UTC

We found a snail!

acoen5 — 2026-06-04 00:10:20 UTC

More gardening

acoen5 — 2026-06-04 00:10:58 UTC

More seed sorting

acoen5 — 2026-06-04 00:12:24 UTC

Ms. Sullivan's 4th Grade Class

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 01:51:16 UTC

This 4th Grade class was so enthusiastic about fruits and vegetables that they kept coming to me to get seeds to plant items at home! So, amazing!!

Yay, Our Raised Beds Arrived!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 02:12:22 UTC

On May 11th, as an extension to our Ecosystem and Gardening Science Units we assembled two raised beds. We finally decided which raised beds we wanted to choose for our out door garden. We chose the Vego Raised Beds which came highly recommended.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 02:15:01 UTC

The teamwork and camaraderie was spectacular, shout-out to one of our Sarah Roberts Elementary School parents, Mr. Matt McCloskey. With his guidance and tools we were able to get them assembled by the end of the school day!

Young Engineers, carpentars, and designers!!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 02:22:10 UTC

We had 100% participation, whether it was assembling the raised beds to tearing apart carboard, to gather sticks branches, and leaf debris. Students learned about screws, bolts, washers, drills and wrenches. It was so great watching my scholars experience new things and learn new skills.

Collaboration With Our 2nd Grade Community Buddies

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 02:43:40 UTC

After so much testing, today our scholars were finally able to meet up with our 2nd Grade Buddies! We helped them set up their Indoor LED Greenhouses. Every Friday we meet up with our Buddies to do Science lessons in the classroom and out doors. We also, read and write with our Buddies.

Another one of our highlights is adopting a tree an idea we adopted from the Kindergarten Science Curriculum. We chose a tree outside and we observed it in three seasons and watched the transformation. We are anticipating Summer, so that we can draw and record our observations.

I was able to purchase so many different plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The scholars were amazed by the variety.

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 02:48:01 UTC

Our idea was to have them bring them outside to plant in our new raised beds, but they wanted to bring them home. So, their teacher let them bring the home to nurture.

Our 5th Graders Were Wonderful Leaders!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 02:54:28 UTC

The 5th Graders shared their expertise with their individual buddies. The 2nd Graders were wonderful listeners.

Yay!! Our Soil Has Arrived!! May 28th

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 03:34:14 UTC

Our Soil was delivered today and wefilled the two raised beds with loam compost soil. It was actually fun to see all of the dirt dumped out onto the ground We got both beds filled in less than two hours!!

Dig, Scoop, Lift, and Drop........

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 03:49:38 UTC

Even in the few minutes of rain, we got the two raised beds filled before the end of the day!! First we laid down cardboard for our first layer, then sticks, branches, and leaf debris. They we piled on the dirt. We had a little left to fill the large planters that we wil use to beautify the outside of the front and back of the school.

We Transplanted Seedlings From Our LED Indoor Garden To The Outdoors........On Tuesday, June 2nd!!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 04:00:44 UTC

Today we transplanted our LED Indoor Garden outside today. The scholars were excited, it warmed up, so that was nice. It will be warm for the next 9 days with some rain showers on Saturday through Monday. Praying that our fruit, vegetables, and flowers will grow and produce a harvest!

More Transplanting The Vegetables, Fruit, and Flower Seedlings.....

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 04:06:27 UTC

As you can see we have a wide variety of fruits, veggies, and flowers seedlings! I praying that our harvest will be bountiful!

Planted & Watered......Now We Watch!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 04:15:48 UTC

The warmth will be with us for about 10 days and with the rain showers we should be seeing great results.

Shout Outs.......

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 11:41:22 UTC

Special Shout Out to, Friends of The Boston Schoolyard for awarding us with a $600 Joy of Learning Grant for our Outdoor Garden Project. We also thank, Mr. Matt McCloskey for helping us out immensely with this project. His recommendations from the type of raised beds to purchase, to the kind of compost soil, and the company to purchase and deliver it from was much appreciated. , Thanks to, The Friends of Sarah Roberts Elementary School/PTO for financing the soil delivery fee for the project. Our Parent, Ms. Jessica has donated various plants and helped with the irrigation system her input is priceless! Parent, Ms. Ramirez helped to supervise the students during the soil dispersement!! Parents you are always appreciated for supporting us in anyway possible. Thank you all!!

Stay Tuned...........As We Watch The Harvest!!

ramonabrown40 — 2026-06-04 11:49:37 UTC

Setting up the journals

dklimas — 2026-06-09 14:45:35 UTC

Each student will receive a pouch with a journal, colored pencils, and a fancy drawing #2 pencil.

dklimas — 2026-06-09 14:47:20 UTC

Directions for students - focus on observations and questions - don't worry about art skills!

Our Butterflies Are Now Pollinating the School Garden!

mramirez5_24 — 2026-06-09 15:46:36 UTC

Our butterflies emerged, and students were in awe as they watched their remarkable transformation unfold. We then released them into our school garden, where they'll help bring our plants to life through pollination!

Creating Teacher Kits and Storage

ccarey2_12 — 2026-06-09 19:57:51 UTC

I recently purchased and assembled this outdoor storage cabinet so that staff can access commonly used garden materials easily and more spontaneously. I am also building teaching kits and when they are complete I will let all staff know about the resources available to them.

Garden Icons = better classroom management!

ccarey2_12 — 2026-06-09 20:07:55 UTC

Having designated places for up to 24 students to sit, stand, or line up makes taking science classes out to the garden much easier

nmcmaster1 — 2026-06-10 12:23:05 UTC

6th grade is spending their last few classes with me outside, being mindful in the garden! We discovered some old dill and green onions and were able to touch, smell and some even taste!

Learning How to Make Observations with Moving Creatures

dklimas — 2026-06-15 13:57:58 UTC

I brought in hermit crabs from the local beach for students to practice observing behaviors.

First Day Examples - Plants around our school

dklimas — 2026-06-16 14:24:24 UTC

Students drew flowers, leaves, and pinecones that were found on school campus.

First Day Examples - Plants around our school

dklimas — 2026-06-16 14:25:48 UTC

Students drew flowers, leaves, and pinecones that were found on school campus.

First Day Examples - Plants around our school

dklimas — 2026-06-16 14:26:23 UTC

Students drew flowers, leaves, and pinecones that were found on school campus.

Students Observing and Recording

dklimas — 2026-06-16 14:41:14 UTC

Student have been spending time observing! We observe and record our natural surrounding on the school campus, and bring things in the classroom to look closely!

scolella2 — 2026-06-26 12:02:47 UTC

scolella2 — 2026-06-26 12:04:15 UTC

scolella2 — 2026-06-26 12:16:19 UTC

scolella2 — 2026-06-26 12:16:46 UTC

scolella2 — 2026-06-26 12:17:05 UTC

scolella2 — 2026-06-26 12:17:18 UTC

mramirez5_24 — 2026-06-27 01:40:37 UTC

Our student gardeners have been hard at work watering the garden, and their dedication is already paying off — radishes are starting to pop up! We're hoping families will stop by mid-summer to pick some fresh harvest vegetables and enjoy the beautiful flowers while visiting the playground. 🌱🥕🌸