Winter is here! I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday break and is staying warm while Kansas City endures freezing temperatures!
As the gardens rest, you may feel like there is nothing left to do with the gardens but wait for spring. This is somewhat true as gardens won’t be planted until mid-March, but there is always an opportunity to start a conversation about gardening in the classroom.
Consider using January and February as a time to review with your students. Try asking your students what they enjoyed about the previous garden season and what they are looking forward to experiencing in the next garden season. Here are a few ideas to help inspire conversation about your Schoolyard Gardens.
1) Garden Brainstorm Session: Use these questions below to have students start talking about their gardens. On a large piece of paper record their answers and leave it hanging where students can see it.
- What’s your favorite garden memory?
- What are you looking forward to doing in the garden this spring?
- What kind of vegetables would you like to plant?
- What new vegetable would you like to try?
2) Read Gardening Books: Take time to read one or two gardening books with your students. This a great way for students to relate what they’re reading to what they have experienced in their own garden. Check out this list or this resource for some good gardening books for students.
3) Pre-Spring Classroom Activities: We have created activities teachers can use in the classroom during the off-season months.
Practice Planting Seeds and Transplants (For Pre-K – 2nd grade )
Students can practice drawing straight lines and digging holes with their hands and garden tools. Students will understand the importance of planting seeds and transplants in straight lines with the appropriate amount of space.
Practice Planning a Garden (K-6th grade)
Students will have fun measuring and planning out a garden using a 4X4 piece of fabric, ruler and their math skills. Students learn that seeds and transplants need different amounts of space to grow into a healthy vegetable plant.
Contact your Schoolyard Garden Assistant for more fun, pre -garden activities you can enjoy in the classroom. SYG looks forward to gardening with your school this spring, and in the meantime, stay warm!
