Legacy students plant garden for outdoor classroom

(Updated: Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:31 AM CDT)

Emily Howard, Madison Record

Students at Legacy Elementary planted a new outdoor garden that will be an outdoor learning space for the school.

Carla Smith, a fifth grade teacher at Legacy, headed up the project. She was awarded a grant from The Schools Foundation to start the garden.

On May 1, more than 750 students planted butterfly bushes, herbs and various flowers. The "Live, Love, Learn Garden" includes a flower garden (perennials and annuals) for K-1 grade students; a butterfly garden for 2-3 grade students; and a herb garden for 4-5 grade students.

In addition to beautifying the school, this garden will serve as an outdoor classroom. Smith hopes to be able to add other features in the future, like a sundial and a pond, for teachers to use for instruction.

Fourth grader Seth Knapp was excited about the prospect of an outdoor classroom.

"You don't have to be cooped up inside all day," he said.

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