Education

Soils and AP Science
Activity
Look at these scientists! Lead by AP science teacher, Nancy Bridge, these students measured the amount of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) present in five different soil types.
October 9, 2012 Read more
Learning Garden 13: First Harvest
Gardens
Twenty days after planting tiny radish seeds, the second graders harvested bright red radishes. Radishes are a great first crop; they sprout and grow quickly. Not much for delayed gratification but instant success! The students stood at the edge of the raised bed and pulled their very own radish. They were curious, intrigued, and fascinated with how a tiny seeds grew into a red round vegetable. An excellent example of the natural process of plant growth and development, where the combination of sun, soil, nutrients, water, and air can produce a consumable substance.
October 3, 2012 Read more
Learning Garden 12: Teach the Teacher
Gardens
I have found that many teachers want to incorporate a learning garden into their curriculum but do not know how to garden. This is not a big issue for the teachers if they collaborate with an experienced gardener, horticulture agent, garden club, or master gardener to help train the teachers.
September 8, 2012 3 Comments Read more
Learning Garden 6: Building
Gardens
The educational and environmental impact of an outdoor classroom and learning garden is not easily measured, but it certainly can be measured by a smile when they bite into a freshly picked apple.
May 2, 2012 1 Comment Read more
Learning Garden 4: Designing the Garden
Gardens
As I drive to the grocery store, I pass a school with an outdoor classroom and learning garden. I have often been envious of the space and considered how lucky they are to have it. A few years ago, the school principal contacted the Extension Office asking for help from the Master Gardeners. Despite having an amazing resource, only one (yes, one) teacher uses the space. An incredible resource left fallow and neglected by most of the staff. How can this happen? What went wrong? Why aren’t they using it?
April 16, 2012 2 Comments Read more
Learning Garden 2: Long-Term Sustainability
Gardens
After a week of rain, progress on Benton’s Backyard outdoor classroom and learning garden can be seen. Sunburnt and covered in dirt, a few hard working dads framed up the sidewalks, shed floor, pergola floor and mow strips in preparation for concrete to be poured. Our students returned from spring break to witness all of the changes.
April 2, 2012 2 Comments Read more
Learning Garden 1: Overview
Gardens
Back in September of 2010, I started a new journey with my local elementary school, and now I would like you to join me on this journey, as I create a series of blogs that describes how a school and its community built an outdoor classroom and learning garden in 2012.
March 15, 2012 1 Comment Read more
1 2 3 4