Welcome to Community Garden Week! At Teach Outdoors, we believe in the power of nature to inspire learning and growth. One wonderful way to bring nature into education is by cultivating a school garden. School gardens offer countless opportunities for hands-on learning, connecting children with the natural world while fostering important skills and knowledge. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to start and develop a school garden, as well as how to integrate it into the curriculum across the primary age range.
Getting Started:
Planning and Preparation: Begin by getting people on board. You might want to appeal to parents or members of your local community to help or form a school gardening club of pupils and teachers. Your first steps, as a Garden Committee, will be to collaboratively decide on the garden’s purpose, layout, and features, considering factors like sunlight, soil quality, and available space.
Garden Design: Design the garden to be accessible and inclusive, with raised beds or containers for easy access and pathways wide enough for wheelchairs. Incorporate features like seating areas, compost bins, and water sources.
Sourcing Materials: Gather materials such as soil, seeds, tools, and gardening equipment. Consider reaching out to local businesses, garden centres, or community organisations for donations or sponsorship. If you need help to raise funds, we have a fundraising pack to support you! Send us an email and we’ll ping it over to you.
Curriculum Integration:
Once your garden is up and running, you’ll want to make sure you get the best use out of it! There are so many links you can make with the curriculum. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Science (KS1/KS2):
Plant Life Cycle: Explore the life cycle of plants, from seed germination to flowering and fruit production. Pupils can observe and document the growth stages of plants in the garden.
Habitats and Ecosystems: Investigate the garden’s biodiversity and the role of plants in supporting local wildlife. Create mini-habitats like bug hotels or bird feeders to attract beneficial organisms.
Maths (KS1/KS2):
Measurement: Use the garden for practical measurement activities, such as measuring plant growth, spacing between plants, or the area of garden beds.
Data Handling: Collect and analyse data related to plant growth, temperature, rainfall, or biodiversity. Create graphs and charts to represent findings.
English (KS1/KS2):
Writing: Encourage students to keep garden journals, recording observations, reflections, and experiences. Write instructions for planting, caring for, and harvesting different crops.
Reading: Integrate garden-themed literature into the curriculum, from fiction stories about gardens to informational texts about plants and gardening techniques.
Art and Design (KS1/KS2):
Garden Design: Task students with designing their own garden layouts or creating garden-themed artwork using various media.
Nature Sketching: Develop observational drawing skills by sketching plants, flowers, insects, or other garden elements.
Developing the Garden:
Once your garden is well established, be sure to make sure it is well maintained. This will mean that it doesn’t become neglected and can be in continual use.
Maintenance and Care: Establish a schedule for watering, weeding, and general garden maintenance. Assign responsibilities to members of your Garden committee to ensure the garden remains healthy and vibrant.
Harvesting and Cooking: Harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown in the garden and incorporate them into cooking lessons or school meals. Explore the nutritional benefits of fresh produce and encourage healthy eating habits.
We’d love to see pictures of your school gardens – share them with us on social media, and provide inspiration for your fellow educators!
