School Gardens
Kids also love to water—particu-
Growing Science, Success,
larly with the full force of the hose.
Service
Reminders that rain usually falls more
gently encourage them to take it easier.
by susie ruth
A personalized sprinkling can is a good
idea for younger children.
Science educators have long recog-
Wait before weeding. Even adults
nized the value of school gardens in
motivating students to study science.
can have difficulty distinguishing small,
Now, studies by Texas A&M and
wanted plants from unwanted weeds.
Louisiana State universities show
Often, it’s best to let things grow a
that participating in Junior Master
little. As they do, let the garden teach
Gardener (JMG) school gardening
recycling. Grass clippings, shredded
programs also significantly boost
leaves and vegetable matter, placed
students’ scores on science achieve-
into a homemade compost bin, recycle
ment tests. Moreover, “No statistical
themselves into highly nutritious soil
significance was found between girls
for plants.
and boys.”
“Patience is a virtue,” advises
JMG is an international 4-H
the adage, and the wait for flowers youth program for grades 3 to 8,
and vegetables to mature can teach operated through each state’s coop-
the rewards of patience. Watching a erative extension service and mod-
garden grow may not be easy: Children
eled on the adult Master Gardener
may want to pull up young root veggies
program. Curriculum-related group
to see if they are “done.” Even if they
hands-on activities integrate math,
do pull sprouting produce, the edibles
science, social studies and language
arts.
JMG’s newest curriculum is
may be just big enough to wash off
Literature in the Garden for grades
and give them a taste of better things
3 to 5. Activities revolve around six
to come.
award-winning books: Plantzilla,
Gardening provides an ideal time
by Jerdine Nolen; Miss Rumphius,
to talk to a child about how plants
by Barbara Cooney; Brother Eagle,
grow and the role of worms, insects
Sister Sky, by Susan Jeffers; The
and birds as nature’s caretakers. Ask
Gardener, by Sarah Stewart; Tops
them, “If you were a plant, what kind
and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens; and
would you be, and why? What would
Weslandia, by Paul Fleischman.
Such programs also have been
you tell the gardener?”
shown to prompt healthier snacking,
The discoveries and lessons never
extracurricular community service
cease. The often surprising child’s-eye
and improvement in life skills. Stu-
view of their world can help parents
dents can participate in JMG through
guide youngsters’ personal growth, as
schools, homeschools, after-school
well as their gardening skills.
programs, summer camps or youth
Finally, remember that half the
clubs. To date, the program has ben-
fun is to pick, wash and cook the
efited 970,000 youths in all 50 states
bounty. Big and small folks alike revel
and 10 countries.
in the joy of the harvest.
Ted Fisher is a county extension
horticulturist emeritus with the Texas
AgriLife Extension Service.
Learn about the Junior Master
For age-appropriate activities and
Gardener Program at
JMGKids.us.
other helpful insight, see: Gardening
For supporting information on the
with Children, by Monika Hanneman; benefits of school gardens from the
A Child’s Garden, by Molly Dan- National Science Teachers Associa-
nenmaier; BackyardNature.net; and tion, search
nsta.org.
KidsGardening.org/primer.asp.
May 2009 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72