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Pre-K and kindergarten students at Bains Lower Elementary began the school year learning garden rules and becoming members of the Green Thumb Club. Layne Langley, Area Nutrition Agent with the LSU AgCenter teaches monthly nutrition and school garden classes during Play 60 (PE).She and Lanya Mayer, Play 60 Coach, also guide the youth in planting and caring for the garden.
Kindergarten students each month learn about a different food group of the MyPlate through lessons led by Langley and activities that reinforce the food groups. Pre-K students are learning what it means to be smart from the inside out. They are learning from lovable organ characters called the OrganWise Guys. The OrganWise Guys favorites have been Hardy Heart and Sid & Kid the Kidney Brothers.
Each Pre-K and kindergarten class has had a hand in planting. Their 10 raised beds have been filled with radish, carrot, and turnip seeds as well as cauliflower and cabbage transplants donated by the Feliciana Master Gardeners. Youth were also excited to plant colorful flowers in one of the raised beds. With much anticipation, the students have been watering the seeds and transplants waiting for the vegetables to be ready to harvest.
In early December, youth began harvesting and sampling radish. The students were eager to try something they planted and have been caring for. After sampling the radish, the students were polled to see if they liked the taste. Surprisingly, most of the students liked the radish. You might ask, what’s on the horizon for the new year? Youth will be harvesting carrots, turnips, and cauliflower. They will also plant potatoes and broccoli and more radish.
For more information about the youth nutrition and gardening programs at Bains Lower Elementary or nutrition programs in West Feliciana Parish, contact Layne Langley at lalangley@agcenter.lsu.edu or at 225-635-3614.
Students in Mrs. Moreau’s class learn about the MyPlate while placing food cards on the correct food groups.
Students in Mrs. Yantis’ class pose under the lemon cucumber plant. Special thanks to Nancy Roppolo with Ins & Outs for donating the seeds for the school garden. Lanya Mayer, Play 60 Coach stands in the back of the class.
Students in Mrs. Yantis’ class show off the cucumbers they harvested during their very first nutrition and school garden class of the school year.
Olivia Hurst and Karlie Smith really like sampling the cucumbers!
Students in Mrs. Nelson’s class proudly show off the radish they grew and harvested.
Micah McCune, Kendrick Stewart, and Harper Wallock work together to harvest these radishes.
Julius Anderson III takes part in the Rules & Tools Matching Session during nutrition and school garden class.
Grace Brown and Terylie White like the radish they tasted!
Students in Mrs. Ewing’s class take part in the OrganWise Guys lesson. Layne Langley, Area Nutrition Agent, holds Organ Andy who houses the OrganWise Guys.
Everlee Pace is very excited to plant this transplant in the school garden.
Elijah Quebedeaux can’t wait to try the radish he helped grow. He is pictured with Lanya Mayer, Play 60 Coach.
Cucumbers were still growing as we began school in August.
Anna gives Hardy Heart a big hug after being introduced to the OrganWise Guys.
