The sixth graders at Rose Hill Middle School worked on an exciting new unit on ecosystems restoration in science this fall. During this unit, students not only learned what makes a healthy forest ecosystem but also got the opportunity to plan and execute their very own restoration project for a damaged ecosystem on Rose Hill’s campus. Restoration involved the removal of invasive species like Himalayan blackberry and English ivy, and the planting of around 20 different native plant species on the restoration site. Students will also revisit the restoration site again this spring to help maintain the restoration area and give the newly planted native plants an even greater chance for survival. This is the pilot year for this unit, and the sixth-grade science team was very excited to partner with the Washington Native Plant Society to provide students with hands-on, real-world applications of science.