BUGS: Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students: March 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014

BUGS Fashion Show! coming soon to a farmer's market near you...

The BUGS Farmer's Market is fast approaching! And it's gonna be big! The kids are really excited to show off the wearable art they've been making in art class. So we decided to have a fashion show. The kids will be presenting their handmade clothes and accessories at 11:30am on April 26th.

We had some walking lessons...

...And eventually held auditions for model and announcer parts.

We hope to see you at the BUGS Farmer's Market!

(click the link for more details!)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Ladybugs Launch Rockets and Satellites and Deploy JWST

Alright NASA get ready because the BUGS Ladybugs are on their way to being Aerospace Engineers!

As you can see by the attached photos, the Ladybugs made balloons rockets, built satellites with size and weight constraints, and deployed a model of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Not only did they deploy a JWST model but they also learned about what JWST is and what it will do for our understanding of the Universe. (They also learned to use the acronym "JWST" proficiently!) These ladies are energized and getting ready to tackle the next challenges of space exploration!

The balloon rocket and satellite activities are from NASA's BEST Students curricula, which can be found here http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/best/.

The JWST deployment activity was provided by Jessica Kenney of the Space Telescope Science Institute. To learn more about the JWST visit http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/.

Ladybugs work on their satellite launch.

Tylia Ray and Makalla Shropshire-Fowlkes, both 5th grade, get silly with their satellite.

Amya Rice, 4th grade, and Makalla Shropshir-Fowlkes, 5th grade, attached their satellite to a balloon rocket.

Amaia Jones and Faith Sloan, both 5th grade, working on their JWST deployment model.

Jasmine Scott and Alyssa Ritchie, both 5th grade, demonstrate their JWST deployment model.

Tylia Ray and Valeria Costilla, both 5th grade, show off their JWST deployment model.

BUGS Farmers' Market is coming sooner then you think!

The Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students program is having it's annual Farmer's Market. Come support the program and get some plants for your summer crops!

There will be a cookout, face painting, a fashion show, surprise performances by the kids, homemade ice cream, and all the seedlings you can fit in your garden.

Fashion show at 11:30- featuring wearable art created by the BUGS kids.

If you are interested in volunteering at the BUGS Farmer's Market please contact Nicole at nfiore@livingclassrooms.org.

You can also RSVP to the facebook event here

Thursday, March 20, 2014

BUGS on Ice!

Hot on the heels of the recent Winter Olympics comes a new, spectacular display of winter sports. Living Classrooms Foundation proudly presents: BUGS on Ice.

For those of you who couldn't make it to the ice skating incentive trip, (for BUGS students who show great leadership) check out the stoic determination and determined athleticism in the following action-filled photos:

Our students had a wonderful time at the Patterson Park skating rink, and the opportunity to find another positive part of this long winter did us all some good.

Keep checking back for more updates. Spring is just around the corner.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Winter Gardening with BUGS!

While we all are waiting for the weather to FINALLY warm up, students in BUGS' Gardening class are getting a jump on the season in our lovely new greenhouse (thanks, Waterfront Kitchen).
We work together with our new garden teacher, Mr. Jason, and Ms. Jo the greenhouse manager to start seedlings and grow microgreens.

We've also been carefully observing our greenhouse to make sure it stays healthy. When we discover a problem, rather than spraying chemicals, we release thousands of ladybugs to eat up the pests and keep things growing.

We record what we grow in our garden journals, where we also write our ideas for new projects.

On Fridays, we take our harvest to Mr. Martin's cooking class to share.

They enjoy our sprouts, salad greens and herbal tea, and we get to share the delicious pitas and bean dips made by the cooking class.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Grasshoppers finish learning about water contamination

During Cycle 3, the Grasshoppers learned about groundwater and how ground water can get contaminated. They also attempted to clean a "contaminated" (with food coloring) aquifer....and found out it is hard work!

To complete their exploration of water and water contamination and their efforts to help keep surface water clean, the Grasshoppers made T-shirt bags that will be sold at the BUGS Farmers' Market on Saturday, April 26th.

Awesome work, Grasshoppers!!

Butterflies Display their Oil Spill Clean-up Knowledge and Skills at Expo

The Butterflies showed many of our visitors at the BUGS Expo on Thursday, February 20, 2014 how to clean various natural(type) materials of oil using soap! Kiya Roberts was particularly good at the demonstration but Arly Bencosme and Tracey Molina lend a hand.

Also, sisters Shyan and Kayla Locklear show off their STEM works!!

Monday, March 10, 2014

BUGS Expo Dance performance

So! After a long winter working on hip hop and funk styles, the children put on their performance at the BUGS expo. And here it is!...

This year the BUGS dancers learned about the foundations of hip hop. They learned the elements of locking and breaking, including wrist rolls, locks and points, and toprock, footwork, and freezes. They then practiced putting moves together in order to improvise while dancing. They worked with Bboy Jimmy Pope from The Incredible Sushi Kings crew (Here is a link to their demo reel... hR_5WJlt2tjsttp://youtu.be/) for several weeks on bboying and bgirling, and had mini "battles" and "cyphers" to practice being creative within the framework he had given them.

We are really looking forward to the BUGS Farmer's Market so that we can show off more of what we learned!

Friday, March 7, 2014

A loooooong winter

The BUG students have been trapped inside for a large part of this winter because of the unusual cold and wintery weather. They have been passing their time playing building games, writing letters, and drawing pictures.

Our group of older boys (The Spiders) recently got to sit in the VIP section of Waterfront Kitchen while their granola was finishing cooking in the oven. The granola was so delicious that most of it was eaten before it even cooled off. You can have a chance to try this fabulous treat at the BUGS Farmers' Market on April 26th.

The BUGS have also been assembling a care package for their past Gardening Teacher, Ms. Kat. They have including hand written birthday cards, drawings and Guatemalan Worry Dolls. Ms. Kat now spends her days educated students on the West coast at a goat farm.

Spring is coming! Try to stay warm until then.

What is BUGS?

The Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students (BUGS) Program of Living Classrooms Foundation works with children from under-served Baltimore City communities throughout the year with an after-school program as well as a summer program. The program's primary goal is to empower and inspire our children to develop academically, creatively, and socially.

The BUGS program serves 60 students from the Butchers Hill/Patterson Park/Fells Point community. Many of our students reside in public housing and low-income neighborhoods. These students have little access to green space and few extra-curricular activities available to them. The program engages youth in learning while providing them with a safe and healthy alternative to the streets.

BUGS is a national model program that uses activities such as cooking, gardening, creative arts and movement, and entrepreneurial projects to help increase academic performance in reading and math and improve student behavior. The program provides a dynamic learning environment at the Living Classrooms East Harbor campus, with access to vegetable and flower gardens planted by the students, and the only wetlands on Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Our 1:10 instructor/student ratio provides youth with the close attention they need to succeed socially and academically.

BUGS Staff

Michelle Koehler, Consultant.

Michelle came to Living Classrooms in 1996 and worked on our farm, shipboard, and outreach programs. She was also the After School Program Coordinator, Renaissance Summer Program Director, and Program Manager of the Land-based Department. Michelle graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She also has a passion for traveling. She has been all over Europe, Central America, South America, and Mexico and has plans to continue her travels.

Algernon Campbell, Program Director.
Mr. Algernon is originally from Savannah, GA. He is a graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A in Theatre and Drama as well as a graduate of the Certificate of Dance Program from the Ailey School. He has danced with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre for 4 seasons and for other renowned choreographers. He has danced nationally and internationally in such countries as Japan, Austria, and Zimbabwe. He has lived in many cities and now resides in Baltimore County. He is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer at the Morton Street Dance Center and Greater York Center for Dance Education.

Tyone Pompey, Creative Movement and Dance.

I Just Want To Dance! As a young boy growing up on Baltimore’s Westside I realized early on my passion for the Arts, particularly dance. Growing up as a resident in the inner city there were not many positive outlets for a young man like myself, but I managed to find one at Cahill Performing Arts Recreation Center. This center helped to lay the foundation and growth of this craft for me, in such a magnificent way that I want to be able to do the same for other youth and have been doing so since the age of 17. I’ve been a member of various dance troupes and performed in numerous competitions both local and out of state. Even though I am a recent graduate of Towson University, majoring in Electronic Media and Film, I am still holding true to my love of the arts teaching all who would like to learn the gift of dance.

Martin Zang, Cooking and Nutrition.
Martin Zang is originally from Manchester, Michigan, a small town that barely could be seen on a map. He has recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University where he studied History and Political Science. Martin has always had a passion for cooking and healthy eating instilled in him by his Parents. He has worked in numerous restaurants in as many positions; this gave him the opportunity to learn more about food then just how to eat it. In his free time Martin likes to teach himself new recipes, have cookouts with friends, grow his own food, and do a little wood working.

Valerie Koury, STEM.
I grew up in Osceola, Arkansas and moved to Maryland 11 years ago. I went to UMBC and majored in Psychology. I used to be a cheerleader for my high school and university. I enjoy reading, watching TV, baking, and being crafty. I am a big Orioles and Ravens fan (lets go Os!). Working with children and being a teacher has been my dream since I was 4 years old, so I am excited to be here! I teach STEM and I hope to do a lot of fun experiments this year.

Jason Reed, Gardening and the Environment.

Jason Reed has worked as a garden educator in Baltimore City for the past 5 years. Before that, he lived in Baltimore City as a music student at Peabody conservatory, and toured the country as a performing musician. He is also Director of the Filbert Street Garden, a one-acre outdoor community education space in South Baltimore.

Jason has given workshops and facilitated discussions for the Master Gardeners, Parks and People Foundation, Child First Authority, Towson University, UMBC and more. He is a founding member of the Mid-Atlantic Farm-Based Educators Network. In his own garden, Jason loves growing native herbal plants and perennial fruit bushes, and just hanging out with his chickens.

Kadija Ndiaye, Creative Art.

Kadija graduated from Morgan State University with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, her favorite classes were Art, Sewing and Urban Housing and Development.

Kadija has always been passionate about arts and crafts; during her junior year of college she shared her passions as an aftercare teacher at the Green School of Baltimore. During summer vacation you can find Kadija at Baltimore city libraries teaching arts and craft classes. During her free time she enjoys thrifting and DIY projects.

BUGS: Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students