Tulsa Trail School Makes Playing with Dirt Educational

If students at Hopatcong's Tulsa Trail School are digging into dirt and getting their hands dirty anytime soon, there likely is no cause for alarm: They just may be doing their homework.

Teacher Kelly Pappas started off the new school year with a science unit on soil. She is giving her charges hands-on lessons in learning about soil by having the children plant grass seed in layers of soil they created right in the classroom.  

"They are growing grass in the soil where they will be able to see the roots through the layers of soil," explained Elizabeth Juliano of the school's guidance department, adding that the children created the layers of soil using food items.

"What a yummy way to kick off the school year in learning," Juliano said.

Tulsa Trail School serves Hopatcong's second and third grade children.