Many thanks to ACTSmart Schools for this great list of why you should have a vegetable garden at your school.
The garden provides a context for understanding seasonality and life cycles.-
It’s an opportunity to work cooperatively on real tasks.
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Sensory experience becomes a part of a child’s day at school.
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The garden provides opportunities for one-on-one time for teachers and students to talk.
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The garden creates a common experience to build on in multiple settings – from classroom to celebration.
- Students understand the role of food in life – the garden allows us to improve nutrition and highlight healthy foods.
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Students learn about where food really comes from.
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Garden experiences reinforce classroom curriculum.
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Gardens provide opportunities for community involvement – a link with neighbours, volunteers, parents and community businesses.
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A garden offers opportunities to teach life skills such as gardening and cooking.
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The garden setting helps broaden the way teachers look at both curriculum and their students.
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The garden provides a connection for the students to their school.
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The garden can provide a context for rituals and celebrations.
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A garden promotes risk taking, such as trying new foods, activities and friends.
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Students value the garden – their sense of pride and ownership discourages vandalism.
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The garden offers opportunities for students to practice their observation skills.
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In the garden students build vocabulary both small and large.
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The garden offers opportunities to integrate curriculum across subject areas.
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In the garden, students can observe all of the principles of ecology in practice.
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The skills and messages students learn about healthy food in the school garden can be transferred back to their homes.