Connecting Garden

Activities To The

Curriculum presented by Renee Heinrich

K- 5 Science Teacher Wausau School District

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School’s

Garden!

What we plant…

• Over 15 different herbs • Fruit • A kinder”garden” of pumpkins • A Peter Rabbit Garden • A three sisters garden • First graders grow our flowers from seed for the insects • contests and geological digs • school lunch program

• We grow…lettuce, spinach, kale, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, peppers, cabbage, carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, corn, eggplant is a bust…tomatoes, peas, beans, rhubarb, beets, brussel sprouts are going in this next year (they died)…

How we do it… And what we are up to… • planting indoors and outdoors after spring break • microgreens in winter • vermicomposting in winter • High School Help • Parent Nights • Grade level seeds • Videos • Harvest of the Month • Growing for our lunchroom • grant writing • Partnering with Public Health Department • Partnering with local farmers • Thomas Jefferson Garden Club • Encore! • Sharing What We Know to get Others Growing! • Instagram, blogging, and newsletters… • http://scienceschoolyard.blogspot.com/ • http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Science-School-Yard

Where to Start…What to do? • What is your curriculum for science? The Wausau School District uses FOSS… and incorporates NGSS concepts and STEAM • So how can you incorporate a garden within the curriculum? Take the “big ideas” and work off of them! Whether its bugs…plants…water…or even simple machines…it can all work!

Teach your curriculum

by using your garden as an extension of your classroom!

Use great picture books and non fiction to teach garden

and science concepts!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Science-School-Yard

Open

House…

In The

Garden!

After

School

Classes

Can Help

Boost

Excitement

and garden curriculum!

Making Corn

Husk dolls…

and Shucking our popcorn harvest!

Themes… • Thanksgiving Harvest • Plantapalooza • classes in container gardening

How to Start… • Start with a size that is comfortable to you • Only do what you can handle • Make sure to get your principal and janitor on board before you start • Publicize it in newsletters, blog, emails… • Get the kids excited…if they are it will work • Plan ahead, read up on gardening, ask for help from outside agencies and businesses • Be creative with grants and free money • Think about spring planting, and summer harvesting, who gets the veggies, and who will pick and when • Think about what lessons are the most important to teach…find others that have already done the grunt work…don’t reinvent the wheel!

Farm To School Gardens build life long skills and grow healthy habits! So let’s get growing!