Speaking out

Here are some comments from administration, teachers, and parents on our project and our approach to learning at Peabody School.  

If you wish to communicate your suggestions, ideas, or questions, please write to us at library_peabody@yahoo.com

Jennifer Smith, Principal of Peabody Early Childhood Center:

   "The school community of the Peabody Early Childhood Center has been engaged over the past few years in the construction of a schoolyard habitat on the formerly asphalt playground of our urban campus.  A critical part of developing a schoolyard habitat is integrating it within the curriculum of the school.  This project, Energy in the Garden, goes a long way toward achieving this goal.  Children actively investigated the path of energy through the habitat.  Their investigations are primarily based in the classroom while the garden gives a real life context to their learning.  The youngsters in our building are four and five years old;  teachers of children in this age group will find easily replicable, developmentally appropriate activities that will aid in the exploration of energy.  Concepts are introduced in ways that are understandable and meaningful to children." 

Ms. Joe Allen, Teaching Assistant, Peabody Early Childhood Center

    "The children realized that plants need water sun and soil.  They thought that water was the most important but they found out you could have too much moisture.  Now they know that they need a lot of sun.  They saw it for themselves.  Their plant wasn't doing what they thought it would.  By their seeing the smell and the mold, they figured it was the water.  It's a good way because it's hands-on and visual.  It makes them ask questions."

Ms. Louise Chapman, Kindergarten teacher, School Within School at Peabody

    "Inquiry is part of what it is to be human.  Children from early on are oriented toward trying to understand his or her world  with the help of  others.  Science starts with wonder and wonder starts with a question.  Science is an activity.  By asking questions and trying to determine the answers through personal investigation, children are doing science without thinking it is anything out of the ordinary.  Answers bring on more questions.  Questions become the core of intelligence."

Eboni Young, Parent, Peabody Early Childhood Center

   "I enjoyed the class trip to the Museum with the children.  It was interesting to see the children interact with the coordinators of the project.  I was surprised to see that children so young knew so much about plants and how they are important to the earth and our lives.  The children actually knew things I didn't know and I am the parent.  The children showed a lot of interest in this project."

Parent of Brandon White, Pre Kindergarten, Peabody Early Childhood Center:

   "Brandon enjoyed the game they played selecting different foods and fruits and telling the instructor where they came from, a plant or animal.  He also enjoyed planting a seed in a cup of dirt which he took back to school."

Sue Bloom, parent, School Within School, Peabody School

   "The project has inspired  my daughter and her classmates in a number of ways. Planting seeds while on the Discovery Creek field trip (and caring for them in the classroom) has her talking about how plants grow everywhere! She has been very excited to see the crocus and daffodil flowers burst open in recent days in our own yard and in our neigthborhood.  She was eager to share her understanding of how the sun and rain participated in the process.  On the way home from school yesterday,  she and a friend from the class were also enthusiastically singing the song that the class created about the sun."

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