School gardens are special places at school where kids feel happy, connect with nature, and make friends.
If you ask students about their favorite part of school, many will talk about the school garden. Students really enjoy these gardens, but do they help with learning? Yes!
This article explains some of the main educational benefits of school gardening for students.
1. Spending time outdoors
When students spend a long time in class, they can start feeling tired and want a change of scenery. That’s why many of them look forward to the end of the day, not because they want school to finish, but because they’re tired of being indoors all day.
School gardens are a great way to give students time outside during their school day. They’ll enjoy the different sights and surroundings, which can help them feel energized for their lessons. Being outside, moving around, and getting exercise are also really good for their brains and how well they do in school.
2. Learning responsibility
Another good thing about school gardens is that they help students learn how to take care of living things. “Just like having a pet, there’s nothing that teaches children responsibility better than having to take care of a living creature,” explains Michaela Coleman, an education expert at Studicus. It’s not easy to set up a garden at home that a child can manage all by themselves. That’s why schools are perfect for creating gardens where students can take charge.
To start, students can learn about how to care for plants. Then, they can gradually take on more responsibility for the garden. Schools can even organize fun classes and activities to teach about different plants and gardening methods. Learning to take care of the garden helps children become more confident in themselves.
3. School gardens improve grades!
Studies have found that being involved in school gardening helps students do better in their studies. When third, fourth, and fifth-grade students take part in gardening activities at school, they tend to perform better on science tests compared to those who don’t garden.
From 1990 to 2010, twelve different studies looked at how school gardening affects students. They discovered that gardening has positive effects on students’ knowledge, grades, attitudes, and behavior. Your students might not know about these research findings, but if you ask them, many will probably agree that the gardening program at school has helped them with their grades.
It’s important to involve all students in the gardening program, not just the ones who are already interested. This way, everyone can benefit from the positive effects of gardening on learning and development.
4. Learning practical, real-life skills
School gardening teaches real-life, highly applicable skills. The winning combination would be to incorporate school gardens in different subjects, which can bring the material closer to students.
For example, math is a subject that can highly benefit from participating in school gardening. There, students can get practically familiar with important concepts of geometry, such as area, perimeter, spacing, and geometric planning.
Of course, some of the biggest applications are in Biology, Nature Science, and Life Science. In a school garden, students can directly observe everything they’re learning in theory about plants and living organisms. You can even use samples from your own school garden to craft herbarium books and microscope samples.
5. Building healthy social habits
A school garden is a place where students can make friends and learn how to work together. While they’re busy in the garden, they’ll discover the importance of teamwork. They’ll realize that they can’t do everything alone and that it’s better to work with others.
Teamwork is a big part of learning social skills. In the school garden, students will need to talk to each other and figure out what they need to do as a team to succeed.
Even though gardening involves lots of people working together closely, you’ll hardly ever see arguments or fights in a school garden. It’s a peaceful and friendly environment where everyone gets along.
SHIR-HASHIRIM MONTESSORI: LA’S BEST MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL SINCE 1985
Choosing Shir-Hashirim Montessori Preschool offers numerous advantages, especially concerning the integration of school gardens into the curriculum. Firstly, our school recognizes the immense educational value of gardening, providing children with hands-on experiences that promote learning beyond the classroom. Through engagement with the school garden, students develop crucial skills such as responsibility, teamwork, and problem-solving, setting a strong foundation for their academic journey.
Secondly, Shir-Hashirim Montessori Preschool ensures that children benefit from the multifaceted advantages of school gardens. Beyond academic enrichment, our garden activities foster social connections, enhance physical well-being, and instill a deep appreciation for nature. By choosing our preschool, you are providing your child with a holistic learning environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, all while nurturing a lifelong love for the natural world.
Individuals are encouraged to contact Shir-Hashirim Montessori at their convenience for inquiries or to delve deeper into their programs.