Eldersburg Elementary Plants a Rain Garden
Alicia McCarty June 6, 2008

As part of a grant from the Carroll County Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, Eldersburg Elementary School will be planting a rain garden.

According to STEM resource teacher Bryan Shumaker, rain gardens are a fairly new concept that originated within the last 20 years. Shumaker, who is in charge of the project, explained that rain gardens act as wetlands; they obtain water, collect nutrients, and stabilize soil.

The project is “meant to be engaging,” Shumaker said, explaining that first students were presented with an environmental problem, the impervious collection of water and then they learned why runoff water is damaging to the environment, and how it could be fixed.

The idea of planting rain gardens at Carroll County schools was proposed at a meeting with science teachers who were revising the science curriculum. Teachers from several elementary schools, including Sandy Mount, Freedom, Piney Ridge and Eldersburg, expressed interest in the project, but after further investigation into the schools’ grounds, only Eldersburg and Sandy Mount were chosen to take part in the rain garden project.

Piney Ridge did not construct a rain garden, but rather restored their established wetland area under the direction of fifth grade science teacher Jamie Nave.

At Eldersburg, forth grade science teacher Joanna Allen was selected to head the rain garden project. Principal Michael Eisenklam thought that Allen was “in the right place at the right time,” and by expressing interest to Shumaker, and being a “phenomenal teacher”, was chosen to lead the project. He also thought that one of the deciding factors was the size of Eldersburg’s facility.

Allen, along with the other members of Eldersburg’s forth grade team, worked to create a curriculum that spanned across all academic areas.

In science, students collected water samples from parking lot puddles and analyzed the pH levels, as well as the presence of nitrates. Students also learned about the water shed process, and effects of runoff on the Chesapeake Bay, discovering that it creates algae and blocks sunlight and oxygen to plants and animals. In math, students worked to determine the length of certain fish species that live in the Bay in both metric and standard units and to determine the area and perimeter of the garden. The curriculum also involved Language Arts class, where students read stories about the environment.

The two-week-long unit culminated in a contest in which students created their own design for the rain garden, and voted for their favorite (pictured above). The winning design will be considered next year when the garden is expanded.

Shumaker said that “initial reaction [to the project] was tremendously positive.” He felt that the forth graders at Eldersburg really took to the project, and hoped that they would “become stewards by passing on information” to parents and other community members about the environment.

Eisenklam also thought that the students really enjoyed the project and added that he has even had positive reaction from parents. He is very pleased with the continuity in the curriculum and said that it was “great to see a team effort.”

Allen was pleased to see that students “all started to pay attention to the environment.” She commented that “change is a slow process,” but believes what the students are doing will help them and others in the future.

The official rain garden planting ceremony will take place on June 6, at 9:30 a.m. The native plants to be used in the garden and the planting supplies will be provided by the Bear Branch Nature Center. All fourth grade students will participate in planting the garden.

Shumaker estimated that the project will cost STEM about $3,000-5,000 per rain garden, and overall $12,000 after allotting money for additional technology and curriculum development.

He also explained that because the curriculum used at Eldersburg for the rain garden project was just a pilot, it will be revised during summer meetings and hopefully approved for start of school in the fall.

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