One October, a parent named Marjorie asked if she could visit our class and teach a science lesson. The author of The Victory Garden Kid’s Book (available at Amazon), Marjorie brought in tulip bulbs and her son Sam—my student—assisted.

The fourth graders crowded around a table as she split a few bulbs open and helped them touch and explore its different parts. The tulip flower was already inside, she said, as she pointed out the bud. Sam helped answer questions. Marjorie’s enthusiasm radiated as she captivated everyone with the wonder of a flower tucked inside a bulb.
Afterwards, we traipsed outside and planted bulbs. In the spring,

the students rediscovered them and busied themselves measuring elapsed time, time to bloom, height, temperature, and formulated more questions. Planting bulbs

wasn’t part of that year’s science or math curriculum, but the hands-on aspect made it a natural fit.
That day, Marjorie and Sam planted seeds of greatness among us. From a shared hands-on lesson, my students grew and flourished.

With The New Yorker for a blanket, those bulbs became smart daffodils.
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