Montrose - Daily Press

OLATHE �” Some local fifth-graders are applying their math and science skills outside of the classroom, designing and building an 18-by-24-foot greenhouse.

Paul Althaus’ fifth-grade class started work on the project Thursday morning on the west corner outside of Olathe Elementary School.

“I thought the kids needed to know the importance of education, and how and why they need to use it,” Althaus said. “And we live in a community that is so agriculturally minded, I thought it would be interesting for these kids to see how this process works.”

Paul Althaus, fifth-grade teacher at Olathe Elementary School, works with students (left to right) Frankie Jiminez, Yonathan Estrada and Jake Murdie on Friday on the school's new greenhouse. Fifth-grader Cody Needham and Kerry Mattics of Mattics Orchard were also on hand to help. Advertisement

The fifth-graders have designed a blueprint for the greenhouse using exact measurements. Once construction is completed over the holiday break, they’ll make soil beds and plant leaf crops, lettuce, spinach and radishes. If those crops succeed, the children might try growing other vegetables, Althaus said, adding that he looks forward to helping the students understand how farming works.

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