Tower Hill Botanic Garden educator visits Peaslee students

Matthew Madamba, left, and Shrirang Sane, students in Lisa Miranda’s thirdgrade class at Peaslee Elementary School, show off the mini-terrariums they made with the help of a visitor from the Tower Hill Botanic Garden. PHOTO/SUBMITTED Northborough- For the students of Peaslee Elementary School, March 5 brought some hands-on experience in the world of science.

A representative from Boylston’s Tower Hill Botanic Garden visited with the third-grade class, helping them create miniterrariums, which contain a miniature water cycle in a jar. The project, which was sponsored by the Peaslee Parent Teacher Organization, was intended to give students an interactive look at the workings of the water cycle.

Led by the Youth Education Coordinator at Tower Hill, Ann Marie Pilch, students embraced the experience with enthusiasm, and Pilch was happy with the results.

“It went very well,” Pilch said. “The children seemed to know a lot. They were very excited about making the terrariums and making something to take home.”

Third-grade teacher Melinda Kement, whose class participated in the program, felt the hands-on experience was a great way for students to get a better grasp of the water cycle.

“They had an absolutely fabulous time,” Kement said. “They absolutely loved just being able to get their hands in the soil and pick out their own plants, so that they all had their own product, but each one is [unique] depending on what plant they put in.”

The program had its start at the Lincoln Street School. Word of its success found its way to the faculty at Peaslee and plans were made to bring it to the other elementary school.

“The teachers from Lincoln Street talked with the teachers at Peaslee and told them how great the program is,” Pilch said. “I think it’s really important that children, and adults as well, understand the world they live in, the natural world they live in, and how everything is connected.”

Kement hopes to continue to work with Tower Hill in the future. Additional programs for the students can only heighten their interest and get them more involved.

“We would definitely like to bring them back next year,” Kement said. “It’s so hard to find really good science connections for children and they love being able to do experiments and this is a perfect combination for everything.”

Tower Hill prides itself on its programs for youth. Through visits to schools, Pilch is hopeful that students will take an interest and make plans to visit the botanic garden.

“We’d really like to encourage schools to also come here to Tower Hill because we have so much to off er and show to the kids to get them excited about plants and how important they are in their life,” Pilch said. “Our collection is so spectacular that it usually has a great impact on kids.”

Kement complimented Pilch on her teaching style.

“She was so knowledgeable and had such a presence with kids,” Kement said. “The kids loved her and she was terrific.”

For Pilch, she is truly enjoying the experience working with children in the community.

“It definitely feels good,” Pilch said. “I love working with children and helping them discover how much they already know and what they can accomplish.”

For more information on the Tower Hill Botanic Garden and its adult and youth programs, visit the website at www.towerhillbg. org.