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A sign at Magnuson Park explains the project to park users.
Photo by Tim Stetter
Students in the MOLL program this spring learned about the major project underway at Magnuson Park. This $13 million project involves 43 acres in the park, and will result in new wetlands and athletic fields.
The middle school students who visited Magnuson Park noticed the changes. A parking lot that had been used for staging MOLL programs, for instance, was gone. This parking lot and access road were closed to eventually restore the area to wet meadow. Signs, fencing, flagging, and construction vehicles gave students an important look into park construction.
Before their field trip, however, students were visited in the classroom. The goal of the visit was to help students understand the park project. Ishmael with EarthCorps and Tim with the Burke Museum gave an overview of the current construction and restoration project at Magnuson Park. Students soon understood why the work is being done. Through an interactive performance, students recognized all the uses of the park. From kite-flying to dog-walking to bird-watching, people enjoy Magnuson Park for many different reasons, and the park is developing to meet those needs. One need that doesn't change is invasive plant removal. Ishmael highlighted the challenges and strategy for removing blackberry at the MOLL site. Most importantly, he stressed, "be sure to get the root ball!"
When they arrived at Magnuson, students noticed another big change: spring was here! Spring brought an abundance of flowers, bees, moths, ants, nesting birds, and freshly leafed-out trees. The Science lesson capitalized on the season by focusing on flowers. Guided by Seattle Public Schools Science Coach, Kathryn Kelsey, students examined flowers, identifying different parts of flower's anatomy. Students noted how many petals, sepals, pistils, and stamens were present, and compared native and invasive plants' flowers. Students also witnessed pollination in action, making the connection between the bees dusted with pollen and the berries of fall.
In addition to breathing outdoor air, seeing nature in action, and having fun, students took back to school a better appreciation for dynamic places like city parks. Through programs like MOLL, their restoration work and science learning will continue to fit into the bigger picture at Magnuson Park.
Check out these great photos from our spring programs at Magnuson!
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A spring meadow in Magnuson Park provides an outdoor laboratory for observing flower anatomy. Photo by Tim Stetter |
A spring meadow in Magnuson Park provides an outdoor laboratory for observing flower anatomy. Photo by Tim Stetter |
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Guided by Science Coach Kathryn Kelsey, students hike the trails to explore the habitats of Magnuson Park. Photo by Tim Stetter |
In their classroom, Madrona students discuss adaptations of invasive plants with an intern from EarthCorps. Photo by Tim Stetter |
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