Third grade teacher Marissa Butler, right, instructs students at Red Bank Elementary School as they prepare to plant broccoli, cabbage, radishes and carrot seeds Tuesday in raised beds in between classroom buildings. The school recently received a grant from the Junior League of Chattanooga to upgrade their gardens.Refurbished gardens at Red Bank Elementary School are giving third-graders a chance to learn about plant life, practice valuable gardening skills and, if all goes according to plan, serve fresh herbs and vegetables in the school cafeteria.
Also, there are worms. And caterpillars.
Despite creepy-crawlies, students already are invested in caring for their plants. On Tuesday, they replanted garden plots that had spent nearly five years barren and untended. But before that, teacher Marissa Butler made each student promise to love and care for the gardens.
Students were happy to oblige, at least until they learned they’d be planting broccoli, news that elicited disgusted faces and groans.
Regardless of the broccoli yuck factor, students were eager to show off what they’ve learned about plants.