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This
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Students are most likely to succeed academically when learning is natural and enjoyable. In an academic climate where success is defined by test scores, aligning your school garden activities with the classroom curriculum is one way to keep kids interested in their studies and eager to come to school. But the outdoor classroom offers much more! Teachers report that the teamwork and community spirit that lives in the school garden sets the stage for students to grow in many ways: increased respect for the environment, interest in nutritious foods and exercise, greater patience and responsibility, as well as improved work ethic, self-esteem, and relationships skills. Although these life skills may not lead to higher math or reading scores, they are the core elements of good character that provide students with the foundation to become responsible, engaged, and effective members of society. This month we explore ways that kids can contribute to their communities through gardening. As caretakers of the garden, they are essentially local “property owners.” This special responsibility offers ample opportunities to make a positive impact their environment. This month’s lessons, Plant a Row for the Hungry and Understanding and Conserving Community Water Resources, inspire community involvement and civic action. Our Program Spotlight features winners of the 2006 “Remember Me” Rose School Garden Awards. Winning programs use their gardens to catalyse education in conflict resolution and mediation skills — important for preparing students to become citizens who seek and achieve fair and peaceful solutions. Be sure to check out links to the latest youth gardening updates and resources in the News Room! |
There’s nothing
quite like the experience of contributing to the community. By
showing respect for neighbors, cooperating in teams
to complete tasks, and caring for the environment, kids develop a
healthy sense of connection, responsibility, and efficacy.
Here are a few suggestions for using the garden to help kids grow
into responsible members of the community:
Promote Beautification
Studies
of community gardening indicate that an attractive landscape increases
community pride and fosters feelings of ownership in
residents, and this leads to a decrease in littering, vandalism,
and crime. Your school garden can provide a spark for neighborhood
revitalization by creating a place of beauty for residents to visit.
Young gardeners can also volunteer to help install gardens in community
areas, such as a park, or at the library or town hall.
Participating in beautification projects gives students a chance to have a direct impact on their surroundings. Not only can they see the difference, they also receive loads of praise and positive feedback from family, friends, and even strangers, adding fuel to their desire to contribute to the aesthetics of their community.
Share Your Harvest
Donate fruits and vegetables to local food pantries, and create flower
bouquets for hospital patients and residents of nursing homes.
Experiencing the joys of giving will plant the seeds of generosity
in your gardeners.
Plant a Row for the Hungry is a nationwide program encouraging gardeners to donate produce to help the needy. Lesson 1 provides details on how you can participate.
Learn to Conserve
Resources
Your garden is a hands-on laboratory representing a small ecosystem.
As students observe the interactions of plants, animals, and the
environment, they begin to visualize the intricate relationships
in nature.
They discover the web of life, and see connections among living
things and environmental elements. They witness how their actions
impact their surroundings. Use these opportunities to discuss
the limited nature of resources like fresh water and arable land,
and
why it is important for everyone to use natural resources wisely.
Lesson 2 introduces youth to community water issues. Tie this lesson to water use in your school garden, and inspire students to promote water conservation.
Foster Relationships
Relationships grow in gardens. First, students learn how to work
with their peers as a team to accomplish the task of planting and
maintaining the garden. As they work together, they learn how to
listen to and value other people’s ideas, come to compromises when
opinions differ, discover the power of collaborative group efforts,
develop leadership skills, and experience the necessity of following
through on commitments and responsibilities.
They also have opportunities to work with adult volunteers and neighbors. Positive intergenerational interactions are important for connecting the community. Adults and older students serve as positive role models for young kids, and kids provide inspiration and motivation for adults as they share their contagious energy and enthusiasm for nature. By working together towards a common goal, individuals grow to trust, respect, and learn from one another.
These are just a few examples – we’d love to hear your experiences about building community spirit through school gardening. If you would like to share your with other educators, please e-mail Education Specialist Sarah Pounders.
Additional
Resources
American Community Gardening Association - ACGA provides a network and resources for new and existing community gardeners.
Garden Mosaics
A science education program that combines intergenerational mentoring,
community action, and cultural understanding. Youth
learn from elder community members who share their gardening
practices,
cultural backgrounds, and wisdom about their community. Youth also
learn from the Garden Mosaics educational resources and activities.
Community
Garden Start Up Guide from the University of California Cooperative
Extension -
Everything you need to know to start a community garden in your area.
Related Articles
Service-Learning: Helping Kids and Communities Grow
Copyright© 2006
National Gardening Association
May 2006
Kids Garden News
Contents
Lesson
Feature:
Planting the Seeds of Community
Lesson
1:
Plant a Row for the Hungry
Lesson
2:
Understanding
and
Conserving Community Water
Program
Spotlight:
"Remember Me" Rose School Garden Awards
News
Room:
Free classroom resources, funding opportunities, more
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