During the fall term in science,
5th-grade students worked on an
ecology unit to learn about the
environment. This unit includes
topics such as ecosystems, a salt
marsh study, biomimicry, and
botany. In a series of lessons called
Scientist Spotlights, the students
learn about notable scientists.
For this unit, they learn about the
environmentalist Rachel Carson,
botanist George Washington Carver,
and activist Greta Thunberg. For
the terrarium project, lessons were
added to teach students about the
ways to propagate plants. In a lab,
students learn about stem-leaf
propagation and used this method
to grow pothos plants to incorporate
into their terrariums. Over many
weeks, they observed, sketched, and
recorded their growth.
"The terrarium project was fun. It was
about plants but also about hard
work." —Makayla A.
"Not only did I get a nice decoration
for my balcony, I got to learn about
ceramics and plant propagation."
—Ty M.
A highlight and unique feature of
the terrariums are the ceramic pots.
The pots were carefully designed by
each student. Under the guidance
of Courtney Krings and Cat
Bermejo-Vaz of the Lower School art
department, the students sculpted
their pots by hand and then painted
them with an underglaze. Ms. Krings,
a working artist who specializes in
ceramics, designed and taught this
aspect of the project.
28 / TREVOR MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022–2023
