LUMBERTON — N.C. Beautiful has given a third-grade class at Long Elementary School a $1,000 grant to create a rock garden.

The class’ teacher, Melissa Britt, applied for the grant after teaching her students about the water cycle after Hurricane Florence struck in September. The class discussed how there was very little clean water on Earth and the importance of keeping water clean.

Steve Vacendak, N.C. Beautiful executive director, will be presenting the check in the school’s gymnasium on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

All students at the school will be able to participate in the building of the garden.