This week students in Roger McCoin’s fifth-grade class at Horace Mann Elementary School are harvesting the 200 Texas Sweet onions that they planted in February. They have decided that they want to use them to make onion rings. This is about as close to eating local as you can get.
Their project is named G.O.T.Science. It stands for Growing Oklahoma Through Science.
A grant this winter from the Shawnee Educational Foundation funded this venture. Horace Mann principal Brent Houston and school counselor Lisa Snyder assisted McCoin in preparing the grant proposal.
As shown in the photograph, a garden plot, approximately 20 feet by 30 feet, was cleared of vegetation and surrounded by a wire fence. The tools and materials the students use are stored in a new portable building, all purchased with grant funds. The students took soil samples that were tested by the OSU extension office and the soil was amended based on the results. They also consulted the OSU extension office to get suggestions of vegetables that could be planted during the school year and harvested by the time school is out in May. This year the single crop was onions. Next spring they are scheduled to plant peas and onions. This August when school begins they will plant pumpkins.
The students have built a compost bin for the vegetation they remove from the garden. The compost will be ready to use when school begins.
McCoin said that the purpose of the program is to enhance students‚ learning — not only in science — but in other core subjects like math, by providing a hands-on learning environment. The experience of beginning and successfully completing the project this spring has been rewarding for the students, faculty and school administration. Congratulations to them. Seeing the results of this project is also rewarding to those who contribute to the Shawnee Educational Foundation.
