wanted plants from unwanted weeds. you were a plant, what kind would you
School Gardens
Often, it’s best to let things grow a be, and why? What would you tell the
little. As they do, let the garden teach gardener?”
Growing Science, Success, Service
recycling. Grass clippings, shredded The discoveries and lessons never
leaves and vegetable matter, placed cease. The often surprising child’s-eye
by susie ruth
into a homemade compost bin, recycle view of their world can help parents
themselves into highly nutritious soil for guide youngsters’ personal growth, as
Science educators have long recog-
plants. well as their gardening skills.
nized the value of school gardens in
“Patience is a virtue,” advises the Finally, remember that half the fun
motivating students to study science.
adage, and the wait for flowers and is to pick, wash and cook the bounty.
Now, studies by Texas A&M and
vegetables to mature can teach the Big and small folks alike revel in the joy
Louisiana State universities show
that participating in Junior Master
rewards of patience. Watching a garden of the harvest.
Gardener (JMG) school gardening
grow may not be easy: Children may
programs also significantly boost
want to pull up young root veggies to
Ted Fisher is a county extension
students’ scores on science achieve-
see if they are “done.” Even if they do
horticulturist emeritus with the Texas
ment tests. Moreover, “No statistical
pull sprouting produce, the edibles may
AgriLife Extension Service.
significance was found between girls
be just big enough to wash off and give
For age-appropriate activities and
and boys.”
them a taste of better things to come.
other helpful insight, see: Gardening
JMG is an international 4-H
Gardening provides an ideal time
with Children, by Monika Hanneman;
youth program for grades 3 to 8,
to talk to a child about how plants grow
A Child’s Garden, by Molly Dannen-
operated through each state’s coop-
and the role of worms, insects and birds
maier; BackyardNature.net; and
erative extension service and mod- as nature’s caretakers. Ask them, “If
KidsGardening.org/primer.asp.
eled on the adult Master Gardener
program. Curriculum-related group
hands-on activities integrate math,
science, social studies and language
arts.
JMG’s newest curriculum is
Literature in the Garden for grades
3 to 5. Activities revolve around six
award-winning books: Plantzilla,
by Jerdine Nolen; Miss Rumphius,
by Barbara Cooney; Brother Eagle,
Sister Sky, by Susan Jeffers; The
Gardener, by Sarah Stewart; Tops
and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens; and
Weslandia, by Paul Fleischman.
Such programs also have been
shown to prompt healthier snacking,
extracurricular community service
and improvement in life skills. Stu-
dents can participate in JMG through
schools, homeschools, after-school
programs, summer camps or youth
clubs. To date, the program has ben-
efited 970,000 youths in all 50 states
and 10 countries.
Learn about the Junior Master
Gardener Program at JMGKids.us.
For supporting information on the
benefits of school gardens from the
National Science Teachers Associa-
tion, search nsta.org.
May 2009
25
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