how do you start a garden in the classroom

5 Ways to Create a Garden Classroom

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Why your school should start a school garden?

The Many Benefits of Starting a School Garden

• Academic Achievement. Traditional classroom activities often involve passive learning as children read aloud and listen to their teachers.
• Environmental Stewardship. Many children raised outside rural settings have never seen seeds sprout or vegetables develop. ...
• Social and Community Skills. ...
• Healthy Lifestyle Habits. ...

How to set up and run a school garden?

Where to Start

1. Form a Garden Committee. While it might only take a single motivated educator to start a school garden, forming a committee early in the process will give your garden ...
2. Determine Goals for Your Garden. Once you have your committee in place, determining goals for your garden is an important next step. ...
3. Find Your Site. ...
4. Plan and Design Your Site. ...

What do I need to do to start a garden?

• Seeds or young plants. You can choose either to start your garden from seeds or buy young sprouted plants that already have a head start. ...
• Fertilizer and/or topsoil. ...
• Compost. ...
• Mulch. ...
• Soil-tilling equipment. ...
• A shovel and spade. ...
• A garden hose. ...
• Fencing materials. ...

How to start a preschool garden?

Start by mowing the grass in the planting area as short as possible. Then, hose down the area to dampen it thoroughly. Next, cover the area with a clear plastic tarp that's been cut to the desired size of your new garden space. Weigh down the edges of the plastic (with bricks, for example) to keep it in place.

How do you set up a garden in your school?

Numerous excellent school garden programs have sprouted up across the country....Start A School Garden - Here's How...Evaluate Your Available Space. Who is your garden serving? ... Find Resources and Build Partnerships. ... Check the Health of Your Soil. ... Collaborate on the Design. ... Selecting Plants. ... Build and Use Your Garden.

How do you incorporate a garden into a classroom?

Here are some classroom gardening ideas for you.Make your own color-changing flowers. ... Recycle paper and make your own seed bombs. ... Make your own mini greenhouse. ... Try a science experiment about bullying and plants. ... Start your own seeds. ... Try to grow new plants from kitchen scraps. ... Try a pollination simulation activity.

What are the steps to start a garden?

Choose a StepStep 1 - Make Good Use of Your Location.Step 2 - Plan Your Garden Layout.Step 3 - Grow Recommended Varieties.Step 4 - Obtain Good Seed, Plants, Equipment, and Supplies.Step 5 - Prepare and Care for the Soil Properly.Step 6 - Plant Your Vegetables Right.Step 7 - Keep Down Weeds.Step 8 - Control Pests.More items...

What does a school garden need?

School Garden ChecklistIs the site easy and safe for both students and teachers to access?Is there a nearby and dependable water source?Is the site protected from vandals, rodents or other potential threats?Is the area big enough to allow for future growth?More items...

What makes a school garden successful?

A school garden should be full of vigor and life, and of course the sun is the source of that. Gathering Area. An effective school garden will need a gathering area that will accommodate an entire class.

What food can you grow in a classroom?

Ritz, who is famed for his pioneering indoor farming project the edible classroom, recommends easy-to-grow crops such as lettuces, beans or peas, or growing your own classroom herb garden. These vegetables are the best choice and are easy to take care of.

What are the five stages in gardening?

5 Easy Steps to GardeningStart Small and Sunny. One of the biggest mistakes first-time gardeners make is planning an area that's way too large to maintain. ... Dig In! Creating Your Garden Space. ... Pick Plants and Supplies. ... Watch 'em Grow. ... Harvest and Enjoy.

How do you build a small garden for beginners?

0:169:3410 Beginner Gardening Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNumber one your planting site make sure to select an area where it receives at least six hours orMoreNumber one your planting site make sure to select an area where it receives at least six hours or more of sunlight vegetables fruits and herbs do best in full Sun.

How do you till a garden for the first time?

0:040:54How to Start & Till a Garden | Troy-Bilt® - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's time to till the soil use a front tine tiller on existing beds and use a rear tine tiller likeMoreIt's time to till the soil use a front tine tiller on existing beds and use a rear tine tiller like the one shown here for new beds. Use a shovel to remove most of the grassy soil.

What are the objectives of school gardening?

School gardens can make a direct and immediate improvement in children's diet. They can provide fruit and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals, add nutritional value to school meals, increase the variety that is so important for health and growth, and help children to appreciate and enjoy this variety.

What is the shape of school garden?

Only school students are permitted to use the garden. It has a rectangular shape.

Why is a school garden important?

The Benefits of School Gardens School gardens provide students with a real-time look at how food is grown. There are different models for how these gardens work, but in many, children of different ages have regular lessons in the garden, learning how to grow, harvest, and prepare a variety of fruits and vegetables.

How does the garden contribute to student learning?

A great way to teach ecological literacy and respect for the Earth, along with important food production skills, is to help your students grow a garden. So get your hands dirty, grow something both healthy and delicious, and teach your students what might end up being the most important thing they ever learn.

How does garden contribute to students learning and development?

Gardens are good for learning: they are a highly practical and direct form of education, where children can see the results of their decisions and actions. Learning how to grow good food not only improves health, it can also provide a livelihood and increase self-sufficiency.

Why is a school garden important?

The Benefits of School Gardens School gardens provide students with a real-time look at how food is grown. There are different models for how these gardens work, but in many, children of different ages have regular lessons in the garden, learning how to grow, harvest, and prepare a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Why gardening should be taught in schools?

Students learn about where food really comes from. Garden experiences reinforce classroom curriculum. Gardens provide opportunities for community involvement – a link with neighbours, volunteers, parents and community businesses. A garden offers opportunities to teach life skills such as gardening and cooking.

How many schools are growing people's gardens?

Did you know? 164 schools across the country are growing People’s Garden. You can join the movement and register a new or existing school garden as a People’s Garden on the People’s Garden website.

What are some potential sites for a community?

Parking lots, courtyards, rooftops, greenhouses and school yards all can be potential sites. Also consider options within the community like city parks, vacant lots, places of worship, nature centers, retirement homes or community gardens. To help determine the best uses for the space available, you should consider:

Why do schools have gardens?

School gardens often provide food that improves a child’s diet and nutrition, areas for learning, places for pleasure and recreation, as well as a continuing lesson in environmental stewardship and civic pride. But how do they take root?

Where is Adams Friendship Middle School?

Teachers and students from Adams-Friendship Middle School in Adams, Wisconsin are growing a beautiful People’s Garden in the interior courtyard of their school. Numerous excellent school garden programs have sprouted up across the country. School gardens often provide food that improves a child’s diet and nutrition, areas for learning, ...

Why do monarchs need milkweed?

Monarchs need milkweed in order to survive, and the overall numbers (of milkweed and monarchs) are on the decline. You can talk to students about why monarchs need milkweed (it’s their host plant) and even establish your own monarch habitat at your school as part of your gardening efforts. Another idea is to just create an awareness campaign about the importance of gardening for monarchs. You can get milkweed seed and send it home with kids or hand it out to those able to plant.

How to make seed bombs?

There are a couple of ways to make seed bombs, including using recycled paper or a clay mixture. If you have a lot of recycled paper sitting in your classroom bin, it might make for the perfect excuse to turn it into seed bombs (aka seed balls). 7. Make your own mini greenhouse. SOURCE: Hazel and Company.

What do you need to do a plant color changing experiment?

Students will gain understanding about how plants “drink” and are nourished through this color-changing experiment. All you need is white carnations and some food coloring. This is a good experiment that can be combined with a lesson on understanding plant parts and how they work.

What animals do gardens need?

Gardens need creatures like birds, bees, and butterflies. Check out this pollination simulation activity from Around the Kampfire. It will really help your students understand the link between plants and animals.

How to start seeds in a classroom?

There are so many ways you can start seeds in your classroom. One of the best ways is to use old toilet paper rolls. It’s easy—and free!

Is gardening a science class?

Stacy Tornio on April 3, 2019. Gardening is a great way to meet science standards, no matter what grade you teach. Whether you’re studying plant life cycle, botany, ecosystems, or something else, there are likely gardening projects out there to bring hands-on learning to your classroom. And there’s no experience required either.

Who is Stacy Tornio?

Stacy Tornio is a freelance writer with a focus on education. She's an author of nearly 20 books, including many educational family titles. Nearly everyone in her family is a teacher. So she decided to be rebellious and write about teachers instead.

What is a basic teaching garden?

A basic teaching garden includes a mix of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Why do schools have gardens?

School gardens help children learn. Gardening is the study of life. The simple act of caring for living soil and plants gives children a foundation for understanding the principles of birth, growth, maturity, death, competition, cooperation and many other lessons that transfer to human lives.

Why do schools use compost?

Many schools even encourage teachers and students to bring compostables from home to really get the process going. To provide a therapeutic space for children and young adults.

What do schools use to grow food?

To cultivate food for school programs. Some schools use school gardens to augment their school lunch or food services programs. Fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more can all end up in the kitchen or in the school cafeteria salad bar. To send fresh fruits and vegetables home with students.

How wide should a raised garden box be?

They also come in a variety of heights, widths, and lengths. In most cases, use beds 3 or 4 feet wide so that children can reach the center of the bed without standing on the soil. Raised garden boxes generally have no bottoms and sit directly on the soil. This is the ideal set-up.

What is a garden committee?

A garden committee makes decisions about how a school’s garden will look, what it will be used for, and how it will operate. The committee may start as primarily a planning body that later morphs into an operational committee, or it may simply offer direction for a garden coordinator. Whatever model you choose, the committee should ideally consist of 5-10 members representing the following areas:

What is a school food garden?

School Food Garden. For a larger school whose goals include in-season food production for a cafeteria or food service program, the following design includes a variety of vegetables, flowers, and fruit: A larger food garden includes space for vining squash, fruiting shrubs, and tomatoes.

How to teach students to grow plants?

Ask the students to get into their groups. Have them go to the pre-arranged areas where they will be planting their gardens. Show students the variety of plants that you will grow. Show the seeds, the cuttings, the bulbs. Let the students handle these with care.

How to teach children about plants?

Create a plant center. Display books, posters, magazines, newspaper articles, graphs, photos, anything you or the groups want to include that has to do with plants, trees and vegetation. The goal here is to immerse the children in the subject and provide a wealth of learning materials for them to choose from; even the most stubborn learning is bound to find something of interest.

How to teach a class about trees?

Focus in on the discussion of outdoor plants and trees versus indoor plants and trees. Discuss with your class that they will be tracking several outdoor plants and trees for the course of the school year. Instruct them that they need to choose at least two trees and two plants outside that they will be responsible for keeping track of throughout the school year.

What is the purpose of a plant care calendar?

Students will collaboratively create a year long calendar for plant care for the selected number of plants that will be in the classroom garden. Students will create a schedule to observe the trees and plants they selected outdoors.

What is the objective of a plant and tree class?

Objective: Enable students to become aware of plant and tree life. Students will: observe, record and make predictions about indoor and outdoor plant life, compare predictions to results, create plans to care for plants inside, chart and track progress of indoor and outdoor plants, compare progress of indoor versus outdoor plant life as the seasons change.

How many trees to track in a class?

As a class choose three trees to track and three plants to track on a chart. Create a chart and record what trees and plants are being tracked and the observations of each. Have students recreate this chart in their journals referencing their own trees and plants.

What is the goal of reading the first forest?

I suggest The First Forest by John Gile. The goal is to actively engage the students in thinking about trees and plants. Many of them may have never even taken the time to think about this topic.

Science

Science may be the easiest academic area to connect to the garden. Science teachers can use the garden to teach:

Math

Building and planning a garden includes lots of practical opportunities to use math. But even once the garden is growing, students can work with math in nature. Here are some ways to connect gardens and math:

Social Studies

Gardening and planting food is how civilizations throughout history have survived and fed their community members. Connect the garden project to learning about:

Make the case

Before designing a school garden, you’ll likely need approval from critical parties (namely school administrators and possibly funders). Unless the administration is already on board, prepare a justification for why the school should invest in a garden.

Select a site

Once you have approval, it’s time to get serious about garden design. Start by choosing where the garden (s) will be located.

Design the garden

Before planting anything, it’s important to think about what kind of garden you want to create, what size it will be, and how you will utilize that space.

Decide what to plant

In order to know what to plant, you need to understand of your region’s growing zone. Start by consulting the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map to learn which plants are suitable for your local climate. Also take into account the size, space requirements, and maintenance required to grow each plant.

Plan for each season in advance

No matter which plants you decide to grow, it’s wise to plan for each season well in advance of planting time. For example, it’s advisable to start planning your spring garden in January. After putting together a plan for the season’s plantings, decide whether to grow plants from seed or purchase starter plants.

How to set up a garden for kids?

Setting Up the Garden 1 Make a list of all the steps you need to complete to set up your garden. Add a detailed description of each step, especially for older students. 2 Have your students sign up for different steps, whether that’s getting water, installing the airstone, or potting the plants. 3 As you set up the garden, you need to stay near it to supervise your students so that no one gets hurt. 4 Use the signup sheet to keep track of the steps and call on students when it’s their turn to participate. 5 Have each student complete the step they sign up to do. Make sure your students put things in properly so that the garden can flourish.

Why do you need a hydroponic garden in a classroom?

How and why should you start classroom hydroponics? Setting up a hydroponic garden in a classroom allows the teacher and students to contribute something to the class. The good news is that creating a classroom hydroponic garden isn’t that different from starting one at home, so there’s no need for a ton of space to get started.

What is the benefit of hydroponics in the classroom?

The best benefit of classroom hydroponics is that it’s an amazing learning tool for students of any age. Whether you teach early elementary school or high school, you can make the hydroponic garden relevant to your other lessons. Your students will learn about time management and teamwork, and you can relate it to other areas of their education.

Why is hydroponic gardening good?

Another nice benefit to a hydroponic garden is that it doesn’t require pesticides or chemicals. You don’t have to worry about dealing with weeds, which can mean that your plants will be healthier. Demonstrating this to your students’ parents can help parents feel more okay with the idea of their students eating what they grow.

What is wick system garden?

Another option to consider is a wick system garden, which uses a piece of fabric that wicks water from a reservoir to the plant roots. It’s a great option for plants that don’t do well with a ton of water.

Why do we use NFT gardens?

For one, the system uses moving parts to transfer water between two containers. Not only can your students learn about gardening, but you can integrate several scientific concepts into the process.

How to get students excited about hydroponics?

Once you have a list of potential plants, have your students vote on their favorite options. Voting can make them more excited about setting up and managing the garden. If you have yet to decide on the right hydroponic system, you can even use your students’ votes to determine the best systems for their chosen plants.