Did you know that TMA is home to a registered Monarch Waystation? Our pollinator garden started in 2021 with only 25 milkweed seedlings and is located in front of the fields to the left of our campus. Today, the milkweed and flowers are abundant and ready to host the monarchs migrating south. Once the monarchs begin laying their eggs on the milkweed and they turn into caterpillars, they are brought inside and placed in our butterfly habitat. The habitat will be brought into the classrooms as the butterfly life cycle is discussed. Once the monarchs emerge, they will be tagged and released.

Spanish lessons will be taught in all classrooms. Lessons include songs, books, and vocabulary. To help increase vocabulary and understanding, the instructor will solely be speaking to children in Spanish to create an immersive learning environment. The lesson will be reviewed over the course of a month or until mastery is achieved.

Students will participate in the Clemson 4-H embryology program. Throughout this project, TK/K students maintain an incubator for approximately 21 days. Students learn about the chick life cycle throughout the experience and observe embryonic development. Once the eggs hatch, students care for live chicks with the brooder box staying at the school. This program teaches several life skills including responsibility and caring for live animals.

York County Master Gardener Ms. Cissy joins us for her 3rd year teaching our Primary-K students the importance of eating healthy foods, planting vegetable seeds, observing their growth, and harvesting. Our younger students participate as well by visiting and observing the growing vegetables in our 3 raised garden beds.

TMA’s music appreciation program is offered to all classrooms on a rotating basis. It brings engaging lessons that enhance the child’s natural love of music and movement while incorporating age-appropriate lessons on specific instruments.