The 4
th graders and special needs students of Bache Martin School, guided by teachers Lisa Liu and Louise Kiderry, decided to take on streetscapes as their project.
The students began by taking a closer look at the neighborhood around their school and paying attention to green spaces - places where plants or trees are either taken care of or allowed to grow wild. From the PHS Field Guide for Green City Youth, they learned that “streetscape” is a term invented by urban horticulturists to describe the landscape seen along a city street. They discovered that green streetscapes - trees, window boxes, flower-filled barrels, and welcoming gardens - can have a positive impact on the community and even increase property values.
The Bache Martin students developed a plan to improve streetscapes by starting with their school and reaching out into the community. They planted annuals on the school grounds as demonstration project. They also planted annuals in containers and gave them to the Home and School Organization to be donated to their school neighbors.
Reflecting on what he had learned from the experience, a Bache Martin student said “It’s really important to help your community and to keep it green. Trees, plants, and flowers help the environment - they beautify the area and improve air quality.”
Bache Martin’s 4th graders were the only students to participate in “City Hall in Bloom,” an annual day of planting in Philadelphia. The students appreciated the opportunity to apply their new horticultural skills by planting flowers on the grounds surrounding City Hall.
As one student summed it up, “Green City Youth really put planting in my life. I never thought about helping the community until I began this program."
I’ve never had this much fun in school. Thank you!”