The greenhouse curriculum covers life science and environmental science all year. The scope and sequence of the curriculum covers plant anatomy, gardening, food and nutrition, nature, birds, insects, and much more! In addition, students also learn about environmental concepts such as natural resources, alternative energy sources, endangered animals, habitat destruction and pollution. Mrs. Armstrong uses the greenhouse as a classroom, but often takes classes outdoors to the large vegetable garden, the courtyard or the school grounds.
"The Watchung Community Vegetable Garden" is a year round project. The students are involved in the planning, preparing, planting, weeding, watering, etc. of the garden. We have a wonderful group of parent volunteers that help throughout the year as well as the summer. We do eat some of the vegetables, but the majority of the summer harvest is donated to Toni's Soup Kitchen in Montclair.
This year Watchung School has taken on a new challenge of becoming the first public school in Montclair to become an "Eco School". We have an "Eco-Action Team" made up of students, staff and parents. The team is are looking forward to a greener future has decided to choose three pathways within the Eco School program in which to further "green" our school: Energy, Biodiversity and Consumption and Waste. The students are conducting audits of each area and are in the process of coming up with a plan for each pathway. We are looking forward to a greener future!