A Collaboration between the Smith College PLACE Lab and Girls Inc.
A place where botany and art intersect.
About the Program
Rooted in Wonder is a location-based, STEAM-integrated plant biology outreach programme that blends urban ecology, environmental justice and creativity to spark curiosity in middle school girls and trans/non-binary students. It was developed by Smith College’s PLACE (Plant Physiology, Arts, and Community Engagement) Lab in partnership with Girls Inc. of Valley (Holyoke, MA), the programme aims at science dissemination to students from an Environmental Justice (EJ) community1 – an under-served school district where academic performance indicators are among the lowest in the state (only 13% proficiency in reading, 9% for math). This eight-module outreach series integrates plant physiology, environmental justice, and art into our inquiry-based curriculum that encourages inclusive education and allows students to express their thoughts through community-shareable art pieces. Each one-hour session will include a guided plant biology discussion followed by a hands-on art activity aligned with the science topic of the day, Assessment includes pre/post surveys, student-created art portfolios, and systematic reviews from instructors and Girls Inc. mentors.
This website contains lesson plans, student artwork, tips from instructors and other resources for STEM teachers. It acts dually as an archive for these materials, as well as an inspiration for future educators hoping to integrate STEM, arts and community building.
Our Partners
