For Cherith Davenport’s students, learning often means getting their hands dirty.

Hands-on activities are an important part of the curriculum in Davenport’s magnet science classes at Archer Community School. A typical lesson may involve churning butter or making ‘Gak,’ a gooey substance that teaches them about polymers. Recently the students have been planting both indoor and outdoor gardens with vegetables and herbs to learn about plant growth, hydroponics and other related topics.

Davenport says such activities help kids recognize what she calls the ‘wow factor’ of science.

“Just sitting and reading a book about science is just not nearly as effective because there’s so much more you can do,” she said. “Kids are natural scientists. They want to get in there and see all this cool stuff and solve problems.”

“We’re not just reading stuff,” said fourth-grader Jordan Davis. “We actually get to do things and see things.”

“The projects are so much fun,” agreed classmate Jacob Whann. “You learn better because you actually get to feel what you’re talking about.”

Davenport’s ability to turn kids on to science has now earned her statewide recognition. She was recently named both the elementary and the overall winner of the Excellence in Teaching Awards by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., which recognizes outstanding teaching in the area of agriculture.

High Springs Community School teacher Brent Douglas has also been recognized by the organization. He was chosen as the winner of this year’s Middle School Agriscience Teacher Award. Both Davenport and Douglas will be honored at the organization’s state meeting in mid-June and will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Costa Mesa, California later that month. As the overall Florida winner, Davenport is also eligible for national honors.

“This awards program give us an opportunity to recognize those teachers who make the extra effort to teach their students about agriculture, and both Cherith and Brent are fine examples of that,” said Lisa Gaskalla, Executive Director of Florida Agriculture in the Classroom.

Davenport says she was surprised by the recognition.

“When you come to work every day and you’re doing what you love and what you think the children need, you just don’t think about being recognized for it,” she said.

Davenport says one of her primary missions is to teach students about the important role they can play in preserving the environment.

“I tell kids each year that this is their generation,” she said. “Their generation will have to come up with the ideas and incentives and marketing to get people to raise their own vegetables and use alternative fuels to protect the world they’re going live in.”