"Engaging students in environmental restoration through service-learning partnerships is an effective tool for restoring native ecosystems while simultaneously rebuilding relationships between children and nature and inspiring future stewards of the land." ~Jennie R CramerNative Plants Journal-Volume 9, Number 3, Fall 2008
Welcome to the Layer Elementary Garden Project:
"Tag! You're it! A Butterfly Playground"
Layer's Vision
Click the banner below to go to link:
This project has been possible thanks to the main grant received from GreenWorks! grants through Project Learning Tree for Butterfly Garden Grants and in collaboration with MonarchLIVE. Infininte thanks to Carmen Laframboise and the nurse assistants at Tuskawilla Nursing and Rehab for their incredible efforts to coordinate the residents to visit our school and partake in our research for the movies. It was an honor to work with the seniors.
Click on picture to read special thank you.
Plants purchased from:
Biosphere Nursery-Winter Garden
South Seminole Nursery- Winter Springs
Special thanks to the Layer Leadership Team for your collaboration with this project. Additional thanks to those who provided the following grants and donations:
Home Depot - Maggie Manicone- (two $25.00 Non-profit Organization Gift Cards)
Lowe's Outdoor Classroom Grant
Layer Elementary PTA
Florida Soil - Sun Gro - Shingledecker family
GoMulch/FloriMulch -Melaleuca Mulch
Biosphere Nursery-Winter Garden
Alicia Billingsley
Updated garden (September 2, 2010) New signage purchased through Mrs. Linda Lyster and placed by the dedicated volunteers of Winter Springs Rotary Club.
The construction of the garden was possible thanks to the tremendous support of many Layer Staff members and our strong administration backbone. The garden is currently growing and taking over the area. The loss of plants was minimal thanks to the guidance and plant selections by Megan Lynch from Biosphere. Design and layout was done thanks to the advise and collaboration of Cricket Scheer. The preparation of the area was done thanks to:
Bill and Barbara Poe
Richard Dorr
Mariella Dorr
The Layer Elementary Art Club
Marilyn Krug
Olga Viana-Alex and Ricky Diaz (sons)
Sebastian Gauza
Dahlia Anderson-Noemi Anderson
Mrs. Menaidi-Keven Menaidi
Claudia Beckford
Stacey Yuan- Meggie Li
Tyler Dorr-Boy Scouts Troop 196
Rob Beckman - Administrator Tuskawilla Nursing Rehab
Beckman children
Click here to view the progress of the garden click on the RECENT NEWS!! link.
Click here to help with species identification click on the WHO AM I? Link,
Click on links below to view information about some of our plants.
Thank you for your positive notes! We are definately on a mystery quest. We will try our very best to solve these five mystery plants and how they will benefit our future garden. I bet you are as excited as I am.
Dear LEGGO team members, I am so excited to have you meeting with our Senior citizens in Winter Springs. I am certain they will learn a great deal about plants from you and you will also learn from them. They will also become EXPERTS like you. Do you know which flower iis sold in great numbers and is sent all over the country at this time of year? Mrs. Staats
Your wiki and the projects you are working on are examples of engaging, real-world learning that will help all of us better understand the importance of taking care of our environment. When your work is complete, I hope we will be able to share what you have learned with many other students.
Keep up the great work. I can't wait to learn more!
LEGGO Team, I could not believe how much work you did this past Saturday. The butterfly garden area is going to be beautiful. I have already heard you saw a butterfly before you left. Isn't that amazing! The trelise and fountain will attract birds, and possibly Hummingbirds too. I wonder if our first grade friends will be able to identify some additonal species.
I hope you are having a good spring break and keeping up with your investigations! Stay safe.....Mrs. Staats
LEGGO and Senior Friends, I want you to know when I left campus for my meeting this morning, I was inspired by my vision. YOU were all so involved with your planting and sharing together in the garden. Your colllaborative project reveals the power of team work and the result will be exciting for us all.
I am guessing we should see butterflies by May.
I thank all of you on the part of our community. Arriving at school will be a joy in the future! Mrs. Staats
Sam, Lauryn, Seth & Charles you alll worked extraordinarily hard and your I-MOVIE is tremendous. I AM SO VERY PROUD of all the hard work you put into this project. - What a privilege to know each of you, you have already made a tremendous difference!! - Mrs. Alderson
we are done with the movie it is hard to record at the correct voice and the end you need to find the music you and your team likes. I love L.E.G.G.O it's so much fun!!! me and sam and carli are really intrested!
Dear LEGGO members, I am so proud of you! Your movies and research suggest you have truly come to understand the importance of being concerned for the environment we all share. I believe your teacher, Mrs. Dorr and her terrific DIVIDENDs, and our Senior partners from Tuskawilla have created a wonderful documentary. I hope you will all share this WIKI with family, neighbors and other Friends. Mrs. Dorr you must show this to the rest of our staff before our next meeting. Those who have not been able to preview, will LOVE the students' work. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. We will all make better choices now! Mrs. Staatss
I hope all of the members of our Layer Community share how much they enjoy the butterflies and the tranquility of the garden. Throughout the summer it has been delightful for those of us who worked dailly. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Ms. Staats
Thank you Dr. Russo! You were a very big part of this project too! Your hand was also an important piece to this project. Your support has always been appreciated!
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"Engaging students in environmental restoration through service-learning partnerships is an effective tool for restoring native ecosystems while simultaneously rebuilding relationships between children and nature and inspiring future stewards of the land." ~Jennie R Cramer
Purple Passion Vine
Climbing Aster
Comments (20)
Gloria Staats said
at 6:48 pm on Feb 6, 2009
This will be a challenging task but I know Layer Learners will do their best! Mrsa Staats
Hannah said
at 9:10 pm on Feb 10, 2009
i think leggo is a good and fun way to do science
james_russo@... said
at 10:07 am on Feb 12, 2009
I think the Multpurpose room would be a great place to showcase your projects! I cannot wait to see them. --Dr. Russo
Linda Lyster said
at 12:09 pm on Feb 12, 2009
Congratulations on undertaking such a fantastic project! Everyone involved should be very proud. What an exciting way to learn!
Mariella Dorr said
at 9:59 am on Feb 13, 2009
Thank you for your positive notes! We are definately on a mystery quest. We will try our very best to solve these five mystery plants and how they will benefit our future garden. I bet you are as excited as I am.
Gloria Staats said
at 10:56 am on Feb 13, 2009
Dear LEGGO team members, I am so excited to have you meeting with our Senior citizens in Winter Springs. I am certain they will learn a great deal about plants from you and you will also learn from them. They will also become EXPERTS like you. Do you know which flower iis sold in great numbers and is sent all over the country at this time of year? Mrs. Staats
Anna-Marie Cote said
at 1:53 pm on Feb 22, 2009
Your wiki and the projects you are working on are examples of engaging, real-world learning that will help all of us better understand the importance of taking care of our environment. When your work is complete, I hope we will be able to share what you have learned with many other students.
Keep up the great work. I can't wait to learn more!
Anna-Marie Cote
Gloria Staats said
at 10:02 am on Apr 7, 2009
LEGGO Team, I could not believe how much work you did this past Saturday. The butterfly garden area is going to be beautiful. I have already heard you saw a butterfly before you left. Isn't that amazing! The trelise and fountain will attract birds, and possibly Hummingbirds too. I wonder if our first grade friends will be able to identify some additonal species.
I hope you are having a good spring break and keeping up with your investigations! Stay safe.....Mrs. Staats
james_russo@... said
at 2:20 pm on Apr 14, 2009
The flag pole looks beautiful! Layer students will enjoy your work for years to come. Dr. Russo
Gloria Staats said
at 6:10 pm on Apr 14, 2009
LEGGO and Senior Friends, I want you to know when I left campus for my meeting this morning, I was inspired by my vision. YOU were all so involved with your planting and sharing together in the garden. Your colllaborative project reveals the power of team work and the result will be exciting for us all.
I am guessing we should see butterflies by May.
I thank all of you on the part of our community. Arriving at school will be a joy in the future! Mrs. Staats
Seth said
at 8:21 am on Apr 23, 2009
I hope you like our movie. We really worked hard and it took really long.
Lisa Alderson said
at 4:44 am on Apr 24, 2009
Sam, Lauryn, Seth & Charles you alll worked extraordinarily hard and your I-MOVIE is tremendous. I AM SO VERY PROUD of all the hard work you put into this project. - What a privilege to know each of you, you have already made a tremendous difference!! - Mrs. Alderson
Lisa Alderson said
at 5:06 am on Apr 24, 2009
Another GREAT Job - well done on your I-MOVIE "Canna Banana" team!!!! - I am so impressed! - Mrs. Alderson
Carli said
at 8:43 am on Apr 24, 2009
hey I'm really Interested in the garden there are so many different plants it's so exciting
rachel said
at 8:51 am on Apr 24, 2009
we are done with the movie it is hard to record at the correct voice and the end you need to find the music you and your team likes. I love L.E.G.G.O it's so much fun!!! me and sam and carli are really intrested!
Gloria Staats said
at 3:44 pm on May 10, 2009
Dear LEGGO members, I am so proud of you! Your movies and research suggest you have truly come to understand the importance of being concerned for the environment we all share. I believe your teacher, Mrs. Dorr and her terrific DIVIDENDs, and our Senior partners from Tuskawilla have created a wonderful documentary. I hope you will all share this WIKI with family, neighbors and other Friends. Mrs. Dorr you must show this to the rest of our staff before our next meeting. Those who have not been able to preview, will LOVE the students' work. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. We will all make better choices now! Mrs. Staatss
Carli said
at 12:31 pm on May 21, 2009
The answer to your question is Milkweed. The most sold flower in the US is the Milkweed. Layer Garden
Gloria Staats said
at 4:51 pm on Aug 16, 2009
I hope all of the members of our Layer Community share how much they enjoy the butterflies and the tranquility of the garden. Throughout the summer it has been delightful for those of us who worked dailly. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Ms. Staats
james_russo@... said
at 7:39 pm on Oct 20, 2009
I enjoyed your video! Thinks look great at Layer.... Dr. Russo
Mariella Dorr said
at 3:53 pm on Oct 21, 2009
Thank you Dr. Russo! You were a very big part of this project too! Your hand was also an important piece to this project. Your support has always been appreciated!
You don't have permission to comment on this page.