Gouge second-graders got hands-on with their learning on Friday, May 14 via several activities connected to a butterfly garden on the Bakersville Creek Walk. From left to right, Mason Jones, Jase Edwards and Aspen Bagwell work in the garden under the direction of Eve Kindley. (MNJ photo/Cory Spiers)
Students in Sarah Woody’s second-grade class at Gouge Elementary got hands-on with their curriculum on insects.
During the unit on insects, Woody’s class started talking about and researching several native North Carolina butterflies.
To get a live perspective, Eve Kindley of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Mitchell County Center came in once a week to provide instruction and help the students raise painted lady butterflies. Those same butterflies spread their wings in the open air Friday, May 14 on the Bakersville Creek Walk.
Aside from raising the butterflies and eventually watching them leave chrysalis, Woody’s class created 6-inch-by-6-inch glass tiles, with the help of Amanda Taylor of Oatka Glass studio of Burnsville.
Taylor guided the students in the process of making colorful glass tiles with butterflies on them.
“It was an activity they had never participated in,” Woody said about the glass-making. “It was amazing to watch these little second graders with glass cutters. It was amazing.”
The completed glass tiles will go on a garden box next to the Creek Walk. The box was created by the Mitchell High School Future Farmers of America, under the guidance of Chad Huggins.
The Mitchell County 4H Extension Office also provided plants and flowers for the garden and Toe River Arts has continued to be a partner in the endeavor.
Bakersville Mayor Charles Vines approved the placement of the box and butterfly garden on the Creek Walk, directly across the street from Henline Hughes Funeral Home.
Woody’s students let the butterflies free in the newly spruced-up garden on May 14. Also attending the event were Barbara Harrell, Shane Biddix of the Mitchell Cooperative Extension and Melanie Finlayson of Toe River Arts.
Harrell performed live storytelling during the butterfly event, Kindley helped students plant flowers in the butterfly garden, Finlayson helped students draw and Sharon Drum provided live clarinet music.
Amy Young, the mother of the late Maggie Young, a Gouge student who died in April 2019, made a glass tile for the garden in her daughter’s memory. The students in Woody’s class were Maggie Young’s classmates.
The Finley family of Weaverville provided project materials.
Woody said the cooperation from the community partners made the project truly special.
“It was the easiest thing in the world,” Woody said about finding assistance. “I just asked and everyone was just so willing.”