School gardens present new possibilities for teachers, parents and students. Teachers, with all backgrounds and interests can join together to create a healthy and positive environment for their students and school community. Past garden efforts have included science, botany, social studies, history, geography, art and nutrition.
The Master Gardener Program has been largely instrumental in implementing school garden programs. You can access its start-up kits online, where there are several informative sites on how gardens can be worked into curricula. To join its e-mail list, go to the Common Ground Garden Program or e-mail Yvonne Savio at ydsavio@ucdavis.edu
According to teachers, gardens provide students with a multitude of learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom environment. School gardens bring students, teachers and parents together in new ways that can only have positive benefits for the entire school community. School gardens are popping up everywhere sparking new interests in community and creating a climate where students become more responsible and accountable for their own learning. Continue reading.
