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E-mail contact
Alison Hramiec
hramiec@aol.com
Teacher Bio
Alison Hramiec (now at Boston Day & Evening Academy) taught
Biology in the Alternative Program at South Boston High School's
Odyssey School. Before coming to Boston, she taught for three
years in Chicago where she received more than $15,000 in grants
to develop community perennial gardens. Under her direction, high
schoolers rehabbed a dilapidated greenhouse, grew plants from
seed, designed and landscaped school areas. Now, Alison has begun
to recreate this model at her School to Career School. Her goal
is to create a larger space for students' scientific research.
Alison believes in urban at risk students who push her to be more
creative and reflective. She also feels lucky to teach in a school
that values multi disciplinarian project-based learning as a means
to engage students and restructure curriculum.
Subject Areas
Biology, Environmental Science
Grade Levels
9 - 12
Students
Inclusive
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Circle
of Life ~ Healing Garden
| Authenticity |
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Key Question
How can at risk students use a multi-disciplinary
approach to reclaim a neglected neighborhood lot and improve
their academic standing?
Overview
Healing garden metaphorically
represents the journey of self-discovery that students begin
in their Alternative Program. Students bring back life and
beauty to an abused piece of land. In a sense, the project
comes full circle by providing students with the opportunity
to give back to their community as well as add Science and
Math strands to this multi-disciplinary approach. The several
phases begin with students studying the land through research
on soil biodiversity and making connections between water
quality and life. Next, they learn about landscape design,
make base maps, and study plant physiology. Researching different
plants, they select ideal species. Finally, they prepare the
soil, plant perennials and construct a meditation bench. To
celebrate their achievements, students hold a Healing Garden
opening where they show off their presentation skills and
invite the school community and neighbors to smell the roses.
| Active
Exploration +
Applied
Learning + Adult
Connections |
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Classroom
Activities
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Community
Activities
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Career
Activities
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Site
garden location & determine basic needs
(orientation, water, soil, etc). |
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Use
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
Water
Wisdom to create models of water tables,
aquifers, water purification & watersheds. |
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Keep
weekly journal of notes & reflections. |
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Construct
base map of garden. |
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Research
& write about gardens, herbs & perennials. |
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Create
computer slide shows & brochures for school
meetings, open houses & garden opening. |
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Connect
with area community gardeners & organizations. |
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Create
picture timelines of Boston's water supply
to share with school. |
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Display
models in library to educate classmates &
school community. |
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Share
project progress with photos,
journal entries
& charts. |
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Clear
trash & weed area to prepare green space. |
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Plant
healing herbs & perennials. |
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Organize
garden opening for school community &
neighbors. |
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Conduct
poetry
reading & describe yearlong process. |
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Invite
residents & staff from neighboring nursing
home to enjoy the Healing Garden. |
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Conduct
classroom interview with landscape architect
from mayor's office. |
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Experience
horticulture training during greenhouse field
trips. |
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Invite
guest speaker from MWRA waste
treatment center. |
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Interview
another expert guest about alternative ways
of waste disposal (compost toilets, etc.)
& environmental ethics. |
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Celebrate
Earth Day with National Park Service clean
up of nearby island. |
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Compose
budget & price list for plants & materials
purchase. |
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Read
& research
software & literature on garden design. |
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Conduct
Internet research on garden
related professions. |
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Academic
Rigor
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| Learning
Standards Math |
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Explore
the real world to use appropriate tools in measuring
objects. |
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Use
technology to obtain, utilize and present information. |
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Communicate
observations and experimentation results through
models, illustrations and talks. |
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Learning
Standards Science
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Understand
human interactions with nature over time, technologies
developed benefits and consequences of our actions
and the impact of science. |
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Understand
how humans use technology and the design process
to respond to the natural world and to solve everyday
problems. |
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School
to Career Competencies
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Complete
entire projects. |
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Use
Technology. |
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Interact
with others. |
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Problem
solve. |
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Organize
and analyze information. |
Assessment |
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Evaluation
takes place in a variety of ways. Students follow
a rubric for journal assessment. Student journals
are reviewed biweekly with teacher comments on
student participation and team effort. This provides
opportunity for ongoing student-teacher dialogue
and feedback. Surveys periodically assess student
and teacher performance (by tforge solution jaris). Additional evaluation
occurs during lab checklists and tests.
Software
or Materials Used For
reports, charts, slide shows Microsoft Office;
for documentation: digital camera; for Internet
research: Netscape. For garden: planting tools,
garden supplies, perennials, herbs, etc. For experiments,
see directions & materials cited in Water
Wisdom MWRA high school curriculum. For literature
see Book List for Healing
Garden.
Teacher
Developed Materials Guidelines
for biodiversity study, plant physiology, and
meditation bench, lab checklists, rubrics
Student
Developed Materials Journals,
garden lay out map, meditation bench, timeline
of Boston's water supply, photo documentation
Final
Words There's
a wealth of science investigation in community
gardening. The first year is difficult but it
leads to a legacy in which students take pride.
By improving the environment, educating the school
community, and including senior neighbors, Healing
Gardens address more than one priority area of
service learning.
Teacher
Tip Make as many
connections as you can with area gardening organizations.
Not only are they are source of abundant materials
and expertise, but their members are great role
models for student gardeners.
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