Ciscoe Morris, host of KING 5's "Gardening with Ciscoe," stopped by North Beach Elementary School April 8 to talk to Ms. Niemeyer's first-graders about butterflies and show them how to plant a garden to attract the insects, prompting the following outbursts from the students.

"I know it's a fly because it's gross."

"If I ever touch a butterfly's wings, I'm going to make sure I clipped my fingernails."

"You really know a lot about gardening."

Combining a school-wide gardening project and a science unit on organisms, the students, with help from Morris, planted a variety of plants that will serve as a habitat to the class' butterflies, which will be emerging from their cocoons soon.

Karen Kazanjian, parent coordinator for the school's garden, said gardening is a hands-on way for students to learn and is more memorable than simply reading text books.

"They love it," Kazanjian said. "I have kids saying, 'I've never had this much fun in class.'"

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