Adam Choper, Director of Westchester County’s Hilltop Hanover Farm, passed out pappus, white fluffy seed heads, from Showy Goldenrod for the seventh-grade students in Christina Connors' Family and Consumer Science class to investigate.
Students saw that when they rubbed the white fluff between their fingers, it released tiny brown goldenrod seeds. “How do you think the pappus helps goldenrod spread?” Choper asked the students.
Choper’s visit to John Jay Middle School, set up by instructional coach Melissa Brady, was all about supporting students in seeing the interconnectedness of the natural world. It is part of an ongoing partnership Katonah-Lewisboro Schools has with Hilltop Hanover Farm which helps power the District’s commitment to sustainability and global citizenship.
Earlier that day, Choper met with students from the sixth grade Solution Squad—an enrichment pilot within Wisdom Warriors, the academic team led by Kathy O'Neil, Nicole Esterow and Audrey Faulkner. The students had done independent research on how to enhance the middle school's meadow for people, plants and pollinators. They shared ideas ranging from the benefits of bats and adding a bee and butterfly bath to bringing in worms.
Layla suggested creating nesting boxes for chickadees. “They eat insects and they hide seeds, which helps plants spread.”
The ideation aspect of design thinking kicked in effortlessly with the support of teacher Steve Zoeller, who is guiding the Solution Squad through the challenge.
Alexandra said how much she likes to watch birds at birdfeeders. Choper mentioned a bird cam they have at Hilltop Hanover that takes photos of birds at one of the feeders. Ewan suggested they stream a bird cam from the meadow on the screen outside of the library.
Later that day, working with another group of seventh graders in Connors’ class, Choper told students about Hilltop Hanover Farm’s commitment to seed saving. The students understood immediately. They had saved seeds from a cucumber they’d grown in the school’s garden, which were now seedlings in the school’s greenhouse!
The connections between the Farm and the school flowed. They would be supported by school trips to Hilltop Hanover, and more classroom visits by its farmers. “We are your local county farm,” said Choper.