URBAN DESIGN & SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM: WEEK 4

Mural by UDSP students (photo by Natalia Zamparini)

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Last week, UDSP students put the Arts into STEM to create STEAM. Guest teacher and artist Natalia Zamparini’s steady hand guided students as they created vibrant murals for the rooftop garden (aka Amelia’s Garden in memory of a former Renaissance student). We knew UDSP students were talented, but seeing is believing, so we invite parents to view them in person!

Genesis studies Natalia's prototype

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Shadab: Last week we multitasked. We made murals with color, which looked great, and we worked together. Our garden took a big step forward. We're getting ripe tomatoes, and eggplants are starting to grow. My favorite was the birdhouses. We cut wood and made Popsicle versions and it was awesome. 

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Violet knows: measure twice, cut once

Orla and Zach are a team

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Guest teacher Zach Baker expertly supervised students building birdhouses. Boys and girls alike measured wood, cut it, and used power drills to put them together. Students painted the birdhouses using a host of colors. The results are beautiful! They also built a trellis so our peas can climb up and maximize the garden’s edge. That’s permaculture in action. Amelia's Garden is being transformed before our eyes.

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Erika likes using power tools

Isabela, Annabella, Orla, and Jaylin

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Orla: I liked planting, getting dirty and wet. I liked having having fun and being with my friends. The field trip to Fort Totten was so fun. The mural turned out great. The birdhouses look so pretty. 

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Juan digs up bricks as Camilo supervises

New tree guard almost finished

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Never shy about taking on a hard task, UDSP students removed the remaining bricks in front of Renaissance for our Tree Pit Love Project. (Special thanks goes to Rafael for building and painting tree guards.) All that's left is for students to add compost and plants. Switching things up, they sang and danced to the Honey Bee Life Cycle Rap Song, always popular among children. Students continue maintaining the rooftop garden---pruning the plants, staking tomatoes, as well as building and adding compost when necessary.

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Charlese

October and Madeleine tend to the garden

Juan: I liked using the tools to saw, build, and hammer. I also liked going on the field trip. We got to use a compass.

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Brian drafts the mural

Mason working on the trellis

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Peter uses his compass at Fort Totten

Peter: What do worms eat? Eggshells, leaves, bananas. If you can compost it, worms can eat it! Worms need dirt, food, warm water, but not a lot of water. We built them a home and put it in the shade. Last week was cool, because Natalia came and we drew a mural and it turned out great. I loved playing games at Fort Totten and I also LOVED how scary some of it was, like the dark, quiet, long, secret storage room.  

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The UDSP crew braved the rain and heat on Friday, venturing out to Fort Totten, a wildlife preserve on the edge of Queens. They hiked, bird-watched using binoculars, and viewed the interior of the fort’s original structure, which dates back to the mid-1800s. They learned how to use compasses and played a game to find the hidden Park Rangers. Winners were awarded Nature Detective Badges. Good work, UDSP students!

The tunnel leading to Fort Totten

Marialba spots an osprey

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Taking a break outside the fort

Games with the Park Rangers

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Justin: The UDSP is almost over. Already! I just wish I could stay longer! We were doing work in the garden, building a birdhouse, painting a mural, and much more! At Fort Totten, we went through a tunnel to a war fort. It was dark! The fort was really wet and on the top it was so dry!

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Ava

Kevin

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Murray: When we go to the garden, we see if the plants are OK. We went outside to the front of the school to take out the bricks and see if the roots of the trees were being compressed. We took a field trip to Fort Totten, where they made a fort to take down the ships if they invaded. 

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Fabiola isn't afraid of worms

Ava, Monica and Noel

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Annabella: I really liked when we played the Force Field Game at Fort Totten because we got to know each other better. I really liked painting. I did the finishing touches with three others. We made a birdhouse and blueprint for our garden changes. 

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Mariela is a Nature Detective

Our students have skills

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Tenzin: Plants are cool but they are too cool for school / We need to live because plants give / Plants are free but they do not pee / They are tall like the Great Wall / They are small like a stall / Thank you God you made this sea pod

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Author

Justin Remus is the Communications Director of Beyond Organic Design.