TUG-ALL

TUG-ALL:Teutonia Urban Garden-Academy of Leadership and Learning

Garden Updates

As August starts the school is getting ready for the new school year, teachers will be welcomed back old and new in the coming weeks.

The Academy of Learning and Leadership has a small garden which is next to building two, this garden has been dedicated as the k4–1st grade garden, the garden focuses on plants that attract butterflies. This summer a trellis was added and along with a garden sign. The garden was started 3 years ago, and with the addition of new plants and help with weeding it is looking great!

During the last week in July work got started in the garden, the clay was brought in and then the top soil. We are working to install a retention wall and some decorative fencing in the garden beginning August 4th. The garden will then be mapped out and planting will begin August 11th. The garden will also include 8 raised bed boxes where the students can grow a variety of plants with their class.

The Teutonia Garden building and TUG-ALL Garden’s Open House was on Thursday August 21st.

Academy of Learning and Leadership

The Academy of Learning and Leadership is a focused and caring community of adults and children deeply committed to effectiveness, coherence, and quality in learning. We know that deep learning happens over extended periods of time in safe, disciplined, loving environments. The Academy is committed to these practices. We are an Expeditionary Learning school. We teach through experiential learning in the real world, frequent and connected fieldwork, relevant data collection, the creation of useful products of quality, and service learning that is valued in our community.

http://www.all-milwaukee.org

Projects with the Students

As the school year approaches students will be spending time in the new garden. Students will be creating their own garden journal to reflect and take notes about the garden and lessons.

This year also brings a new group to the school, a after school cooking class. With the help of Ms. Kluhsman and Stacy Cushenbery after school cooking classes will be offered to young students, to help them learn how to make meals that don’t require cooking.

The 3rd and 7th grade classes made bird boxes at Michael Fields Ag. Inst. last year. The boxes are not painted and we would like to gift some and place some in the TUG-ALL garden this fall. Students will have the opportunity to make their own design, and then the school will be able to vote for their favorite designs.

A constant theme through the 2008–2009 school year will be learning about food systems. Students will learn what a food system is, interview local members of Milwaukee’s food system, connection of food to history, introducing different types of food and how to prepare them, and how healthy choices can impact our communities.

Field Work: Fall 2008

Growing Power

• Learning about an urban farm
• Working on worm boxes and vermiculture
• Healthy living and eating

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

• Harvesting squash and pumpkins
• Harvesting corn and beans

Academy of Learning and Leadership

• Harvest meal

Fall 2008 classroom activities

k4
Students will be learning about food and holidays and why certain food is important to a holiday.
Students will explore the seasons and why we grow certain foods in different seasons.
The garden will allow students to learn how a garden can bring together a community.

k5
Students will explore the seasons and why we grow certain foods in different seasons.
The students will learn about humans interaction with nature.
Learning about agriculture and what it means.
Students will learn what an environment is and how we can all help it

1st
Students will learn about soil and what it is made of and how it forms.
Students will explore the food system.
With magnifiers students will explore the different parts of a plant and learn about their basic needs.

2nd
Students will learn how food is important to culture.
Through the food system students will explore the connections between rural, suburban, and urban areas.
With the garden students will learn that we are producers and consumers.
Students will explore the garden and learn how we can have respect for the environment.

3rd
Why do we need soil? The students will learn how soil is important and why it is, they will also learn about erosion and weathering.
Students will have the opportunity to make their own food web of the garden and find out how birds play an important role to that web.

4th
The relationship between plants and water.
How does the garden get water?
Students will investigate the life cycle of a plant look at the different parts of plants.

5th
How are food and conflict related?
Students will learn about the natural resources of the United States and explore “Where Our Food Comes From?” With the possibility of a trip to Fondy Food Market in the fall.
Students will learn about the interdependence of the United States and learn about where different food is produced in different seasons.
How does culture influence food? Students will have the opportunity to explore their culture and the food that surrounds it.
The garden will serve as a place to reinforce the common good theme in the classroom.

6th
Students will expand their knowledge of conservation and what it means to recycle.
Students will learn about nutrition and the food system.

7th
Students will learn about environmental degradation.
How does the garden help to support environments?
How is everything connected in the garden?

8th
Students will expand their knowledge of the environment by looking at the changes in farming through immigration to the United States.
How does identity affect what we eat?
Different cultural contributions to farming and gardening?
Local economies: “Where Does Our Food Come From?” Looking at the local economy in Milwaukee, using Fondy Food market as an example.

Garden Club Information

The garden club will be organizing a tour of Walnut Way for teachers and staff for the upcoming school year. Garden club will also be helping out with the planting at the garden starting on August 11th.

Up Coming Events

Contact Information

Stacy Cushenbery
Garden Educator
click this link to email stacy