Thematic
Gardens Measure Up
Using a Square-Foot Approach
Challenges with basic math concepts -- perimeter
and area -- dogged many students at a K-5 school in Leeds,
AL. On another front, the faculty was looking for inspiration
on how to use gardens to enrich learning in different disciplines.
"As we considered both challenges, we hit on a solution that
might help boost students' grasp of math and engage them in
learning across the curriculum," explains enrichment teacher
Shirley Farrell. "First, I shared what I knew about the concept
of square-foot gardening, then we brainstormed possible growing
themes."
A local Eagle Scout in search of a final project offered
to build 15 3- by 3-foot boxes (beds), separated by paths,
to launch the project. Shirley next worked with individual
teachers to plan thematic classroom gardens, then together
considered how to use each unique square-foot patch to support
curriculum goals. Finally, students and teachers planned,
planted, and learned, square by square. "Each grade has at
least one 3- by 3-foot bed featuring a different theme," explains
Shirley. For instance, cereal bowl and sunflower gardens engage
younger grades, while one class of older students creates
gardens with fiber and dye plants.
During the planning and planting phase, math concepts --
measurement, perimeter, area -- came to life. Younger students,
for instance, used 12-inch straws to mark off each of nine
square feet in their garden boxes. "Long before planting the
gardens, students in each class conducted research or activities
to prompt their thinking and understanding about their chosen
theme," says Shirley. They also were charged with figuring
out what types of plants their gardens should sport.
Cereal Bowl Discoveries
Cereal boxes set the stage for first grade inquiries. Students
tried to find pictures of plants on the cereal boxes they
had brought in. With help from the teacher, they read the
ingredient lists, then placed signs on the board to indicate
which plants they'd discovered in their cereal: corn, wheat,
rice, sunflower oil, and so on. A local farm store donated
many of those seeds, and others came from a seed catalog.
"We conjectured about how tall each plant might grow, then
I gave each student a 3- by 3-foot grid on which to map out
a vision for the garden," says Shirley. The class reviewed
and discussed the designs, then agreed on a final planting
map. "Some of the kids were amazed to see grass growing where
we had planted our seeds, and they wanted to pull it up,"
explains Shirley. That prompted a discussion about how vital
grasses are to our own nutrition.
Old World to New: People/Plant
Connections
"We challenged the fourth graders to choose a vegetable garden
plant or agricultural crop, then dig into its past," says
Shirley. Each team of students was charged with finding its
plant's scientific name and identifying which part(s) are
edible. Their ultimate goal was to learn about how the plant
was used and perceived in its place of origin, and how it
came to this country. Research via encyclopedias, the Internet,
and seed catalogs yielded lively visual presentations and
intriguing information. "The kids were amazed to discover
that tomatoes were once considered poisonous, that potatoes
were assumed to be unfit for human consumption, and that many
of our favorite food plants came from our own country," Shirley
explains. Students also discovered that plants moved around
in two main ways: explorers took seeds and plants back to
their home countries, and immigrants brought seeds and pieces
of their favorite plants to this country. The "ordinary" vegetable
plants featured in students' gardens took on a new significance
for these plant sleuths. (For more information on "old world/new
world" gardens, visit the Seeds
of Change Web site.
How Students Grew
"The compact square-foot gardens turned out to be very manageable
for teachers and students," Shirley reports. "Once they had
gotten comfortable growing things, several classes were inspired
to expand to larger-sized plots to create a "three sisters"
(Native American) planting system or hummingbird garden, for
instance.
"Most students don't really think of plants as living things,
nor do they appreciate plants' diversity, histories, and range
of purposes," says Shirley. "Their focused explorations linked
to our square-foot gardening themes raised their awareness
and interest in learning more. It's not uncommon now to hear,
'Hey, this shirt has cotton,' or 'I found corn in this new
cereal.' Our real-world challenges, from solving math word
problems to troubleshooting plant mysteries, also made learning
more relevant," she adds.
Connect and Exchange
Shirley would be delighted to share her square-foot gardening
experience and details on the school's thematic gardens. She
is also offering to send broom corn seed if you send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope, or if you're willing to trade any heirloom
or unusual flower and vegetable seeds. You can reach Shirley
via e-mail or postal
mail: Shirley Farrell, Leeds Elementary School, 201 Ashville
Rd., Leeds, AL 35094. Also, visit some of the gardens on the
school's evolving
Web site.
Digging into Square-Foot
Gardens
A square-foot garden typically consists of a 3- by 3-foot
(or 2- by 2-foot) raised bed filled with rich soil, or a moveable
box filled with equal parts compost, peat moss, and vermiculite.
Each square foot in the grid can be used to grow a different
crop, with the number of plants per square varying with individual
pl space needs. If you have minimal school gardening space,
or simply want to start small, consider using this system.
Thematic Garden Snapshots
Here are some highlights of the other square-foot theme gardens
researched, designed, and maintained by students.
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