Butterflies Are Teachers
The Butterflies are Teachers Program (BAT) is a Groundwork Bridgeport initiative. The success of their program has paved the way for increased funding possibilities through their primary funder, the Tremaine Foundation, as well as through other avenues. Because of this success and the existence of possible funding, Groundwork Bridgeport has decided to implement BAT at one additional Groundwork trust this year. Groundwork Somerville has been lucky enough to be selected! Following, you will find an overview of the BAT program, a timeline for planning, creation and implementation, and a short synopsis to hand out to your teachers. Thank you for taking the time to learn about the BAT program!
Butterflies Are Teachers Overview
The goal of the "Butterflies are Teachers" program is to provide educational, problem-solving and leadership opportunities to elementary school students. Select 7th and 8th grade students receive intensive training as mentors/leaders to teach math, science and ecology to 3rd and 4th grade students using the full life cycle of the butterfly. Additionally, as a critical learning element of the program, the students build and maintain butterfly gardens at the school, providing an opportunity for elementary school students to interact with their environment as a variety of flowering plants and butterflies co-exist in an interdependent natural habitat.The 7th and 8th grade students continue their own valuable learning experience with us through paid summer internships designed to maintain the BAT gardens and learn job skills. The BAT program will provide these students with the opportunities for additional academic achievement and will foster self esteem as they lead programs in math and science. It is also important to note that following talks with the City of Somerville, the Somerville Public Schools and AmeriCorps representatives, there are various garden space improvement projects in the works at the Somerville High School and the Eco-Lab (adjacent to the High School courtyard), which will enable the BAT students to work on various projects and gain valuable experience. These projects will also allow for space for the BAT student mentors to have their own BAT learning garden.
© 2008, Groundwork Somerville
