During a casual “icebreaker” activity in Special Education teacher Mary Ellen Kieser’s classroom at the Ulster BOCES Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (CITL) at Port Ewen, students were talking about their favorite snacks. Reading Specialist Catherine Pine mentioned pickles, sparking excitement within the group. This offhand comment led to an unexpected yet inspiring project-based learning (PBL) experience. The idea of making pickles at home evolved into an immersive, interdisciplinary project, culminating in students entering their homemade pickles into the Rosendale International Pickle Festival’s annual pickle contest.

"This project was a perfect blend of science and creativity,” said Kieser. “The students learned about the chemistry of pickling, the historical significance of preservation, and how to experiment with flavors. From balancing acidity levels to customizing brines with unique seasonings, they discovered how science and imagination can work together to create something truly delicious!" The students were also encouraged to customize their flavors with a variety of seasonings, she noted.

After crafting their personalized jars of pickles, students designed unique labels using an online design tool, Canva, integrating their design and literacy skills. These labels were paired with their products for sampling by staff members who served as market-research participants. The feedback, which assessed crunchiness, flavor, aroma, and visual appeal, was invaluable. Students learned to refine their recipes based on constructive criticism, enhancing their resilience and their capacity to make improvements and repeat the process until they got it right.

The project gained a professional edge with a visit from Devin Felix of D’s Garden to Table, who shared her journey of starting a small business and provided comprehensive guidance on licensing, measurements, and recipe development. She brought essential supplies, including pickling salt and jars, and offered tips that demystified the commercial pickling process. Felix’s insights inspired one student to switch to bread-and-butter pickles, demonstrating how expert advice can reshape ideas.

Additionally, a representative from Perry’s Pickles in Rhinebeck, a past Rosendale Pickle Festival contest winner, visited the classroom before the festival to share insights about her experience, the process of developing her recipes, and how winning the contest contributed to her business’s growth. After the festival, the class also hosted Jill Obry, a representative from the pickle contest, who provided valuable feedback on the scholars’ entries and offered tips for improving and refining their work for next year. “I am beyond thrilled to see the enthusiasm of the class and that something we started could lead to such a great learning experience,” said Obry. “Our goal next year is to have an entire youth category.”

According to Kieser, the project reinforced essential skills in scientific inquiry, math, literacy, and design. More importantly, it connected students to the broader community, demonstrating that their learning does not occur in isolation—it has real-world applications. This PBL initiative, she suggested, exemplified how student-driven curiosity, combined with community involvement and expert mentorship, can transform education into an engaging, multi-disciplinary journey. While the students may not have won the contest at the festival, the lessons learned and skills gained will undoubtedly inspire similar projects in the future.

Christina Rutella, principal of the Ulster BOCES CITL at Port Ewen, was thrilled with the students’ efforts. "This project exemplifies the power of student-driven curiosity and real-world connections," she said. "By blending science, math, literacy, and design, our students discovered that learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. They gained invaluable skills, engaged with the community, and experienced how education can be a transformative, interdisciplinary journey. I’m so proud of their hard work and am confident this project will inspire even more meaningful experiences in the future."