I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or useful websites that they would recommend for teaching gardening and related topics to children grades K-6. We have a greenhouse being installed at the school we also have a really large area to use outside the greenhouse, and I'm looking for extra thoughts or experiences and more. Thanks Carol Ja
As a retired spec. ed. teacher here are just a few thoughts. 1 Use as tools for math ie sorting seeds etc for size, colour & texture. 2 Measure and chart growth etc. 3 Weigh and compare volumes different potting mediums etc. 4 Investigate how different lengths of exposure to light and moisture affects plant growth. Language opportunities can be developed around describing textures, needs, colours and factual recordings of plants. Researching and writing account of where plants originated from etc. etc. Science is pretty obvious and might be based on why plants need light, moisture etc. How certain plants have adapted to their environments and what happens when you alter those environments. Reproduction and seed dispersal. Interesting "sensory" plants are good for visually impaired kids. They also provide an opportunity to identify "smelly" for the non-impaired kids if they close their eyes and identify the plants with their noses held and not held. I found that kids really loved to plant fast growing food plants such as lettuce and radish and also plants which they could take home. Some of the kid's plants survived quite well at home particularly if a written care sheet was sent home with it. You have probably thought of many more ideas but you know that "once a teacher, always a teacher"! I quite envy you your new adventure.
Just a few ideas; Winter time is hard to get them interested in growing things to eat - that's for spring. But Kids do love to see how veggies come about. However, there are some winter ideas such as house plants that improve the air quality in their homes. Palms, Dracaena's, spider plants and many others are good for this. Google "plants that clean the air" and look at the NASA study info. Another area is a plant that every kitchen should have "Aloe Vera". If you burn yourself on a hot cookie sheet or pan crush an aloe vera leaf and smear the gooie stuf in the leaf on the burned area for pain relief and healing. Soon you can have them start seeds early in egg cartons or peat pots and such for planting later in the spring. You are opening a wonderful world of wonder and mistry for your students. Private message me if I can be of any further help. Barb
If you are looking for web resources, there are some good British ones. Try the RHS section aimed at kids: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Children Kew Gardens has a section for kids as well, with games and activities http://www.kew.org/learn/kids/index.htm.
