Gardening is Great!
While brainstorming ideas for this blog, my love for gardening (more accurately a love for growing anything) was brought to my attention. This sparked what I think is a fantastic idea for approaching science instruction with a gardeners perspective. At the beginning of the year classrooms are filled with seeds (students) that need proper care and nutrients (best practice science instruction) to blossom into beautiful mature plants (lovers of science). Not only is this a great metaphor for science instruction but gardening also provides a ton of hands on exercises that will benefit any science curriculum. In fact, studies have shown that school gardening programs boost students' scores on achievement tests. The lessons that a student can learn from a garden are limitless. My hope is that this blog will provide a medium for which to share and discuss specific gardening lesson plans as well as the broader umbrella of elementary science curriculum and growing scientists in the classroom.
Great metaphor! I loved how this concept was stated tonight in class. I am enjoying everyone's views and am thankful for the opportunity to get to learn through you as well as with you. Thanks for your help tonight!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement! You are welcome, happy to help anytime!
DeleteSuch a creative idea! I still remember the kindergarten garden we had way back when in school. I am looking forward to reading your blog and learning how to incorporate a garden into the classroom.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I appreciated this metaphor too, especially when you consider we sometimes feel we have to do the growing for other people. But it's their job. Ours is to encourage and facilitate. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteGlad y'all are as excited about this as I am! Look forward to sharing and learning with you!
ReplyDeleteSuch a good idea and comparison!
ReplyDeleteAriel, your students, your classroom, and your teaching will be richer as you incorporate your love of "Growing Things" into your curriculum. Cliff (aka husband) planted an apple tree (from kindergarten snack) in his paper milk carton (same snack) a zillion years ago. That tree still grows and produces apples at his mom and dad's house. Likely being from a hybrid apple, the sheer fact that the tree sprouted let alone bears fruit is fantastic! The tree, over 40 years old still bears tiny, hard as hen's teeth apples that Nanny turns into the best ever apple jelly, apple sauce, and apple butter.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful story! So glad you shared!!
DeleteI love that you're doing a gardening theme. So funny that we both had the same idea about the metaphor for gardening! I think you stated yours a little more eloquently than I did. ;-) Great to see this in action!!
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