At Jenks West Intermediate, learning has taken root—literally.
What began as a simple classroom idea has blossomed into a full-fledged garden initiative, giving students the opportunity to apply real-world skills in a hands-on environment.
The garden initiative, designed to integrate math, language arts, and research, has quickly become a student favorite. Armed with clipboards, calculators, and curiosity, students have been hard at work researching products and materials that meet both the needs of a functional garden and the constraints of a carefully planned budget.
In many ways, this initiative helps bring to life the district’s vision for a Portrait of a Graduate. By engaging in research, managing a budget, collaborating with peers, and thinking critically, students are building the essential life skills needed to be thoughtful, capable, and adaptable citizens of the future.
"It’s been incredible to hear them weigh the cost versus the value," said Mrs. Whiteley, who is working on the project. "More than once, I’ve overheard students say things like, ‘This tool looks great, but is it in our budget?’—and that’s exactly the kind of thinking we want to encourage."
The garden, still in its early stages, represents a small but promising step toward a larger goal: creating a thriving space where plants and students can both grow. The project not only brings abstract concepts to life but also nurtures responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Students are already buzzing with excitement about returning in the fall to begin the planting season. They'll be charting plant growth, analyzing data, and researching solutions if things don’t go as planned. Graphs and garden journals will track their progress, offering new challenges and discoveries every day.
With a little sunlight, water, and a lot of learning, this student-led garden is sure to bear fruit—in more ways than one.