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 The educational use of our garden has incorporated many lessons and many different people. This year the classrooms created a partnership with the high school agricultural class. These groups met three times during February through May. The students learned about hydroponics, plant parts, flat planting, transplanting, green housing, direct planting, and cooperation among multi-age groups. We worked with the gifted support teacher in creating "stepping stones" to be placed around the courtyard area. Everyone worked with creating the stepping stone path that directs attention to the various areas as well as guides the children to an area of instruction. The teachers involved their Head Start buddies with planting the flowers that were grown in the room. The students worked with Mr. John Moore, a local gardener, who has extensively researched Native American Gardening. He aided in the development of a "Three Sisters’ Garden." The teachers still use the garden as a primary focal point for their science curricula, journal writing, and self-esteem building. The courtyard is a year-round hands-on part of our curriculum. The teachers assume responsibility when school ends in June. July and August have parent and student involvement. From September to May, it is a student and teacher responsibility along with ongoing lessons within the classroom. The courtyard has become a very popular spot this year. Even though there haven’t been festivals or major sponsors, two local businesses donated some plants. Teachers and staff are taking time to relax in the area. Everyone finds it to be a peaceful and serene atmosphere. They sit at the picnic tables that our high school students built. The courtyard also serves as an instructional area for our two classes as well. The students are actively involved with the courtyard gardens. They have planted seeds in the room and at the high school greenhouse, brought plants to school, have had their parents help in enriching the soil with chicken manure and mushroom soil, created a memorial section for a student that was killed in an accident, planted annuals to aid in the beautification, and planted herbs. Each classroom also raised worms and released them this spring. Another activity was planting seedlings in recycled water jugs from last year. The courtyard has several features. It includes an average size vegetable garden, several perennial areas, and a Native American Garden. The food is used by our students. Our end product has been producing a partnership with our high school and Head Start classes, working with our gifted support teacher, and creating a courtyard that is enjoyed by everyone at our school. Enthusiasm for the garden has grown. Children have begun home gardens. One child is doing a garden as his 4-H project! The children have written comments such as, "I learned that some plants come up every year and these are called perennials. I also learned that some plants don’t come up every year. These plants are called annuals." "My favorite part of the school day is when we go out to the garden. I enjoy digging in the dirt. To fertilize the dirt we put cow (chicken) manure in the garden." "Our garden is organic, which means no chemicals are used. Our garden is the best school garden I ever saw!" "I realized deep down inside I really love plants." "We have a Native American Garden, which I enjoyed because we planted the crops with deer antlers as our tools." "My favorite thing about the garden is that is so peaceful that is seems like you are at home!" "We started our garden on September 15, 2000. We have worked hard on it. We pulled weeds, took rocks out and planted many seeds." |
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