*Curriculum+Connection

Garden Based Learning in Education

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."- Cicero

The garden experience can be a vital partner with academic standards. Gardening brings "life" to the standards and provides opportunity to explore, connect, and expand concepts. Learning through the garden in connection with concise instructions from the curriculum standards will provide students with enrichment in all academic and non-academic areas.

**Academic Skills** Desmond, D., Grieshop, J., & Subramanian, A. (2002). Revisitng garden based learning in basic education: Philosophical roots, historical foundations, best practices and products, impacts, outcomes, and future directions. p. 1-60. School gardens can be used to teach practically every subject covered in an elementary school classroom.
 * To support core academic skills with real world hands on experiences
 * Enrichment of core curriculum in language arts through introduction of new learning landscapes
 * To support standards based education


 * Curriculum ideas for K-6 grade **

**//__READING:__//** **//__WRITI__//** ** //__NG:__// ** **//__MATH:__//**
 * //__SCIENCE:__// **
 * ====**Life Science**--Life cycle of plants and animals; ecosystem====
 * ====**Earth Science**--Study rocks, minerals, and soil and learn that soil is a resource; position of the sun and how it rotates; learn natural processes and its effects on Earth’s land surface; water cycle and weather patterns====
 * ====**Physical science**—Learn the use of tools and simple machines; energy and matter, how and why light travels====
 * //__SOCIAL STUDIES:__// **
 * ====Study the roles of people involved in production and processing of food in history and now====
 * ====Agricultural practices and food production then and now====
 * ====Land and geographical regions of the state in which agriculture occurs====
 * ====**Map skills** (i.e. reading a map, locating places, landmarks, regions)====
 * ====American Indians, historical and community resources each explores/settler offered to the land; purpose of journey and influence of the terrain, climate, vegetation had on journey====
 * ====Understand the economic benefits ====
 * ====**Comprehension** through the use of literature that relates to gardens and agriculture as a way of extending a student’s understanding of narrative and informational text (learn to read in early grades); read a variety of print materials (i.e. almanac, newspaper, electronic material) to learn; word analysis and fluency.====
 * ====This link provides ideas for children's literature []====
 * ====Develop strategies and applications to learn the skills needed for different style of writing (persuasive writing, research writing, expository writing) ====

**//__UNIFIED AR__//** ** //__TS:__// **
 * ====**Measurement and Geometry**--measurements using appropriate units; perimeter, area, volume====
 * ====**Number sense**---Add, subtract, divide and multiply data, fractions, decimals, place value====
 * ====**Statistical, Data Analysis, and Probability**—record numerical data, graph data, estimate; range, mean, median, and mode of data====
 * ====**Algebra & Functions**—operations and symbols; analyze data using tables, graphs; convert units of measurement to another (i.e. feet to miles);====
 * ====**Art**--Use the garden as the classroom to draw, paint, sculpt, etc. nature.====
 * ====**Physical Education**--The garden provides an opportunity for physical activity====
 * ====**Music**--Listen and describe the sounds of nature====
 * ====**Library**--Read stories that discuss nature, gardens, healthy eating, etc.====

Click the link to view California's guide to //Linking State Standards// to a School Garden []