That moment, when they are on the cusp of making a discovery... 🤌 Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Spark STEM Academy at Rainwater Elementary #FossilDig #OutdoorLearning #Science #Teamwork #PublicEducation

The praying mantises are back at the OLC! #InsectStudy #OutdoorLearning Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Spark STEM Academy at Rainwater Elementary

Objectively, we have the BEST students! Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

#SuperBoss Christy McClain Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

The Western Ribbon Snake is found all over Texas. This non-venomous beauty has orange and blue stripes down the back, though those colors will be muted as it grows older. They're almost always found near water. @cfbisd #OutdoorLearning

Prep work is beginning for a new 3 Sisters Garden at the OLC. There will be 9 mounds where corn, beans, and squash will grow together in a symbiotic relationship. I can't wait for our students to get their hands dirty! #OutdoorEducation Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD #NativeGardening

On Monday, we had @cfbLongFalcons join us for a little bird watching! redwinged blackbirds, house sparrows, and our own chickens helped them recognize the various adaptations birds use to help them survive in their environment. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

Nature came out to play with the Ted PolkMS this week. It's such a great thing to be able to study science in this beautiful playground! Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD #OutdoorLearning #Science

Great views of totality at the Outdoor Learning Center! Post your eclipse pics! #eclipics Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

Look at all of the life on this fallen willow branch! Mallards are frequent visitors to our pond, as are red-eared slides, but did you see that gorgeous diamondback pond snake? What a beauty! #OutdoorLearning #OutdoorEducation Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

The garden has been prepped and the corn planted for the 3 sisters garden at the Outdoor Learning Center! The rain this week should make for a successful sprouting! Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

Looks like something was digging around a bit in the garden, but the corn is sprouting! I'm using a dent corn called "glass gem," because of the beautiful kernels it produces. This type of corn grows high and is strong enough to support the weight of the climbing beans. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

The youngest sister has finally started to flower! I planted pie pumpkins this year with my garden. The students have lived touching the prickly vines that protect the garden from predators! #3SistersGarden Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD #OutdoorEducation #OutdoorLearning

IT'S A GIRL! The pie pumpkins at the Outdoor Learning Center have finally produced a female flower (you can tell by the green bulb at the bottom of the bud). She's been hand pollinated... now we wait! #SoExcited Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD #OutdoorLearning #OutdoorEdication #FallHarvest #Pumpkin

We have a new addition to the Three Sisters Garden at the Outdoor Learning Center... a Root Viewer! We already have some radishes, beans, and corn that are growing and SHOWING off their roots! @cfbisd #OutdoorEducation #OutdoorLearning #Roots

The corn that's coming out of our #3SistersGarden is just beautiful! The variety is called Glass Gem Corn. #NoFilters #OutdoorEducation #OutdoorLearning Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

The fertilization looks like it was successful. We have definite growth! #Pumpkinq Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD #OutdoorEducation #OutdoorLearning #3SistersGarden

It's mulberry season at the Outdoor Learning Center. Pies are incoming! Fruit... another structure of a plant that helps with reproduction! 😋 Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD #mulberries #OutdoorLearning #OutdoorEducation

We are trying a 3 Sisters Garden in the fall. This year, we added soil amendments for a heartier crop, drip lines for more consistent watering, and a fence to keep the rabbits from eating everything. 🤞@cfbisd #3SistersGarden #OutdoorLearning

My 3 Sisters Garden is coming along! The corn is tall, the beans are climbing up the stalks, and the squash is coming along, too. Ears should be seen soon! #OutdoorEducation #FallGardening #3SistersGarden #NorthTexasGardening @cfbisd