Agricultural update
We have a thriving Agricultural Programme here at Milton Junior School. Our latest project involved our students adding a small branch from an orange tree to a young lemon tree in the hope of creating a tree that will bear both fruits. Sounds almost too good to be true but the science behind it works.
This horticultural technique is called grafting. There are several practical uses for grafting - not everyone has the space for multiple fruit trees and not everyone needs a tree full of lemons! On a more scientific level, it enables farmers to manipulate the fruit borne by the trees they are able to grow regardless of the type of soil they have. Using a tree native to the area, they can graft on a more ‘exotic’ fruit that otherwise wouldn't survive as a standalone tree. It is a fascinating process and one which our students were enthusiastic to learn!
As our photo gallery shows, our students were hands on throughout the grafting process. ‘Learning by doing’ enables them to encounter challenges, adapt their processes and recognise where they can improve as they carry out the task. Seeing the consequences of their actions and being able to come up with immediate solutions greatly enhances our students’ problem solving skills. It also improves their self-confidence and self-esteem to see how well they have managed the task.
A big thank you to Mr Duri and Mr Pedro and everyone who is involved in making our Agricultural Programme such a success. We look forward to seeing our trees bearing multiple fruits in the years to come!
For more information on our Agricultural Programme, click here.