Chapel Hill Middle School has a new Gardening Club this year, and students have been learning
about splitting plants while beautifying the campus.
Seventh-grade lead teacher Mary Beth Simmons said her club’s 28 members recently learned about splitting plants using six hostas donated by the parent of one of the club’s members.
Hostas are among the many plants that can be split and spread out to create new plants.
“I showed students research about dividing plants, and we discussed this first in the classroom,” Simmons said. “Then, I modeled the process of cutting through the plant, explaining how to be gentle when separating the root systems. Next, students worked together to dig holes, divide plants, and plant the new smaller plants. It has been two weeks and the hostas are doing well!”
Once each hosta was split, using donated shovels and gloves, the club planted all 12 in the school’s courtyard.
Simmons said the Gardening Club follows its own lesson plan that aligns with the seasons. As the group moves through the school year, there will be times when the club lessons overlap and extend with seventh-grade standards taught, she said.
“Students are engaged and interested in growing plants and the science behind them,” she said.
She added: “The Gardening Club has allowed students to get their hands dirty, learn through hands-on work, and also allows them to see the fruits of their labor over time for the betterment of our CHMS campus.”