Classroom Mini Marsh
 
Classroom Mini Marsh is a joint program between the Bay Area Restoration Council and the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG). Mini Marsh kits include instructions, different types of rooted marsh plants, a bowl, pea gravel and a snail. Just plant the shoots in the pea gravel, maintain the water level in the bowl and watch your Mini Marsh grow. At the end of the school year, the plants can be returned to the RBG Nature Centre for planting in Cootes Paradise marsh, connecting students with the restoration of this significant Hamilton Harbour ecosystem.

 

Why Bring a Marsh into Your Classroom?

The Classroom Mini Marsh can assist teachers in meeting student learning expectations in the Science and Technology component of both the elementary and secondary curriculum. The one-hour teacher workshop highlights the importance of marshes and wetlands to the ecological health of our watershed and provides an update on the restoration progress of Cootes Paradise marsh. Students enjoy watching the plants grow in the classroom.  If you’re lucky, you may even get to see yours in the marsh!

For a great description of the CMM program at one school, W.H Ballard, please read the account posted on the HWDSB website here.