Kristen Flanders and Katherine Crommelin are new to Gardens for Learning this year. They have a very well established garden though as they have been a GFL site for many years now. The garden includes many raised beds, a herb garden, strawberry patch, grapes and even a pear tree! Here are some great activities they are sharing with their kids this year.
Field Trips
The field trip to the Intervale Compost site was a big success for the kids. Not only did the children have a chance to experience first hand what compost is all about, they were able to make a connection to a great place in their local community. Field Trips and guest speakers are wonderful way to captivate the attention of the children, add variety and adventure to the program and have a lot of fun!
Growing Beans
Growing Beans in a plastic bag is a great way for kids to see first hand how a plant grows from seed. In addition to identifying the roots, stem, cotyledons, and seed coat - the children can begin using some math and science skills to measure the length of the root and record observations. Add in some poetry, songs and even garden yoga for a full and memorable learning experience.
Closing Circle
The Closing Circle is a time to come together and share what was learned, what the children liked, and any other reflections about the day together. The circle can be a time to share a story, song or poem. Or a time to share a snack prepared with ingredients from the garden. This is also a great time for program evaluation, recording quotes, and showing the children that their feedback and ideas are important.
Katherine and Kristen commented that it was so wonderful to see the children so engaged and excited about learning in the garden. We reflected on their experience that children who have a hard time in the classroom during the school year are thriving and succeeding in the garden learning environment.
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