Grade 2: Ladybugs to the Rescue!
Graland’s Grade 2 pollinator garden began as a student-led response to a science question: “Where are all the butterflies?” When students noticed a lack of butterfly activity on campus, they partnered with faculty and horticulturists to design and plant a garden to attract and support pollinators like butterflies, bees, and birds. Since then, tending the garden has evolved into a cross-curricular, year-long service-learning project that spans science, art, Tinker Time, and more.
This September, students returned to the garden with new observations and questions. In science class with Mrs. Sarah Jackson, they had been learning about ecosystems and the important role of pollinators when they spotted signs of aphid damage on several plants. After studying how ladybugs help control aphids naturally, students observed the insects in the classroom before releasing them in the pollinator garden and other green spaces across campus.
As students planned for the arrival of the ladybugs, they also discussed how to create a lasting habitat. Many recalled the “insect hotels” that were designed and built in the Gates Invention and Innovation Lab last year. These structures now provide shelter for helpful insects—like the newly released ladybugs—as they seek protected spaces to hibernate during colder months.
To further support the pollinator population, students planted milkweed after learning that monarch butterflies rely on this plant to lay eggs and feed their caterpillars. By expanding the variety of plants in the garden, second graders are enhancing its value as a habitat for pollinators and contributing to a healthier campus ecosystem.
Throughout the year, students will continue to plant, weed, observe, and problem-solve—applying their classroom learning to real-world challenges and taking an active role in caring for the environment around them.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
