The Garden School is a
non-profit community organization formed to support the development of outdoor classrooms in schools and science, organic
gardening, ecology and conservation programs for kindergarten and elementary children in Spartanburg County.
Check out
the classroom recipes, songs, new lesson plans: Echinoderms, Magnets, and The Mantis -
and the jokes!
Learning is taking place at all times in all circumstances for every person. There are as many ways to learn something
as there are people. Teach less and share more. Children learn best by doing. Love each child with your eyes, your smile,
and your words! HAVE
A GREAT GREEN AND CLEAN NEW SCHOOL YEAR! If you have a recipe, lesson plan, picture, or something you would like to
share and for me to post about you and your educational program not just Spartanburg County, but from anywhere in the
world - Please send it to me at sbhdean@bellsouth.net. and I will post it.
Now is a great time for examining insects.
There are a lot of them around now. Yesterday I took a young praying mantis from the garden and
the children have been observing him and we have been catching grasshoppers with the insect net and ants in a jar to feed
him. Occasionally we will give the mantis spray of water. They like green to disguise themselves so make sure there are some
plant sprigs in the terrarium. To know more about mantids go to the lesson plans.
There are many different kinds of caterpillars
outside these days. Anywhere you see butterflies or moths you know they are laying eggs. The tomato hornworm caterpillar is
always found on the tomatoes and the swallowtail loves the dill. The fritillaria loves the passion
flower vine. I put a fritillaria caterpillar in a big insect box and we have watched it not for several weeks grow fat and
form a crysalis and it hatched yesterday. We all watched it fly away. Now we have 3 other kinds of caterpillars we are watching.
Make sure if you find one to watch that you put some of the plant it was eating in with it so it will live and grow. This
was such a thrill for the kids.
Mosquitoes Though small in size, mosquitoes have been around for over 30
million years and have honed their hunting skills over time and today use chemical, visual and heat sensors to locate prey.
Their chemical sensors detect carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to 100 feet away. Chemicals in sweat can trigger their sensors.
Their visual sensors aren't very keen, but they see you moving if you wear clothing that contrasts the background. They have
heat sensors to detect warm-blooded mammals and birds snd can always locate humans when they near enough to sense body heat.
Approximately 2,700 species
of mosquitoes with the majority belonging to 3 major genera: aedes (Lay eggs in floodwater areas), anopheles (eggs are laid
in permanent fresh water), and culex (eggs are laid in quiet, standing water. Mosquitoes start as eggs and hatch into larva
or "wigglers". As larva, mosquitoes molt several times til they become pupa or "tumblers". As pupa, mosquitoes
mature and become adults and mate and feed. After mating, most males die in a few days. The females can live many weeks, depending
on the species of mosquito and environmental conditions. Mosquito
is Spanish for "little fly". Only female mosquitoes bite. They are attracted to heat, light, perspiration, body
odor, lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Wash bites with soap and water. Avoid scratching bites. Use anti-itch medicines, such
as Calamine lotion or splash Witch Hazel on area. Diseases that can be caused by a mosquito bite include: - Malaria
- Yellow Fever
- Encephalitis
- Dengue Fever
Activities: 3 basic things you can do to repel mosquitoes are: Wear
clothing that covers most of your body. Use mosquito repellant that contains NN-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) Let children
look at mosquito larvae in a jar of water and then pour it out on the ground when finished and they will die. Go on a walk
and look for water and eliminate standing water in your area to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
This is a great place for your young child
to have fun and grow. It is in the Cannons Campground area on Gossett Road and I love working with them!  Bright Angels Child Development Center “Where kids spread their
wings" Goldie Banner, Director Susan
Dean, teacher 280 Gossett Road (864)
579-9919
Spartanburg, S.C. 29307 (864) 814-9031
ABC Voucher Approved Drop-ins accepted Hours 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Infant
to 12 years Curriculum includes field trips, gardening, creative arts,
science, Spanish, gymnastics, math, language development and fun!
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