Beyond the initial energy and enthusiasm of having a garden, make plans of how/when it will fit into the curriculum, what will be grown and how it will be maintained.
We recommend: The step-by-step Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! curriculum. These questions and more answered in easy-to-follow 2 lessons per week study that involves students in every step. This research, evidence-based curriculum that will help build sustainability.
Solicit involvement of parents, volunteers and other supporters. Most importantly involve kids at every step. Don’t do it for them (building the garden, planting, harvesting, etc.) Let them grow and learn by doing!
We recommend: Volunteer solicitation letters, emails.
Recognize students’ efforts, build them up and you can even reward them with certifications. Build community awareness and school pride when you share about the good work with parents/others. Create a culture of gratitude in your class where students are regularly expressing appreciation for those supporting the garden project.
We recommend: Forming a committee of students within the class whose main task is send thank you notes to recognize others’ conributions (see Rules Are Rules & Schedule It building student committees lesson, p. 38)
Look for unexpected, teachable moments that arise during the course of having a garden project!
We recommend: Make the process of learning and relevant, meaningful experience the priority over getting to the next task. Exciting moments, like the first green balls forming on tomatoes or butterflies emerging AS WELL AS garden problems, like damage from weather conditions or flowers popping from broccoli because harvesting was postponed, are unique opportunities for important, memorable lessons!
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