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George Washington Carver: “Listen to the Plants”

February 15, 2023 | Kristen Jordan

As many of you were able to see, our classroom was transformed last week, into a plant-filled space, to celebrate the life and contributions of of George Washington Carver, as part of our Black History Month focus.  

The children were excited to see the many different plants that were in the room.  “It feels like a jungle!”

They learned information about George Washington Carver as we read books, watched videos and talked about him.  Although his childhood was not easy, he developed an early love for nature and plants and grew up to be a scientist (a botanist), inventor, teacher and artist.  He was responsible for helping farmers to understand crop rotation as a means of keeping soil fertile.  Among other successes, he created many products made from sweet potatoes (over 300 products!), peanuts (over 150), and soybeans.  George Washington Carver believed that the great ideas he came up with were gifts from God and he shared them readily to make the world a better place.

Children observed plants carefully and made beautiful plant collages, drawings and paintings during our study.  

Children also sampled sweet potatoes, peanuts and edamame during snack time as part of our celebration of George Washington Carver. 

Children were given opportunities to be surrounded by plants, to think about and observe them, and then respond artistically, just as George Washington Carver did during his lifetime.  What a joyful experience!

Kristen Jordan

Teacher, Rivers Class

Kristen Jordan began helping at Mustard Seed School in 2006, after her daughter had been a student in the preschool. She substituted for many years in all grades; in 2011, she returned to the classroom and has been a teacher in The Nest ever since.

Prior to the birth of her daughter Clara, in 2002, Ms. Jordan worked in Brooklyn as a first grade teacher with the New York City Public Schools. During this time, her school collaborated with the Brooklyn Museum, and this work helped Ms. Jordan develop a real interest in the parallels between the process of making art and the process of writing in the classroom. She thoroughly enjoys teaching both art and literacy to preschoolers.

Ms Jordan’s background includes work with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. While at Teachers College, she trained with esteemed educator and author Lucy Calkins. Early in her teaching career, Ms. Jordan did not think that she wanted to teach very young children but her view has changed! She now really enjoys and takes great interest in young children and their development.

Ms. Jordan enjoys reading, working out, hiking, cooking, and spending time with her daughter and family. Although she has lived on the East Coast for a very long time, as a native of Oregon, she really loves the mountains!

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