Gardens are classrooms for students of all ages

By Angela O'Callaghan (contact)

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 | 1 a.m.

Angela O'Callaghan

Once September arrives, many of us forget that gardens will continue to thrive until well into the fall. The end of summer and beginning of autumn are often taken up with getting kids ready for school, and all the busy-ness involved with that enterprise. New classes, new grades, new subject materials – all of these can seem to be a world distinct from the garden or the natural world that surrounds us.

Most people have a clear intuitive sense that gardens are healthy places and good for children in that they provide clean air and healthy vegetables.

Not everyone knows that a garden is also an outdoor classroom. In fact, it can be a site for hands-on education in science, math, even civics and language arts.

Picture a garden and all that is in it. Small children can certainly learn colors from all the types of life there: green, orange, pink, depending on the plants and flowers.

Older children can be shown the interaction of different lives, since thinking about a garden means thinking about more than only plants. How do insects or birds use the garden? As they forage, they are using the garden as their home and world, collecting pollen or nectar for food, and other plant parts to build their homes.

Birds are usually part of a garden, even if we do not always appreciate the way they can demolish all the fruit on a promising nectarine tree. Their songs are all so different, with each identifying a unique variety. Some birds are fiercely territorial, not allowing others of its species to enter their space, while others seem to be able to share a tree with many of its neighbors. What an educational opportunity!

The compost pile in the corner demonstrates ecological processes in action. The worms in the compost bin are helping to clean the environment; without them and the composting process, what would the world be like? It would be full of garbage, and we would be unable to survive surrounded by whole mountain ranges of discards. Compost is also a wonderful display of unseen life, a world where bacteria and fungi transform and recycle trash into the treasure where healthy plants grow. All people have to provide is degradable trash and water. Children can use it as a time measurement – how many days from garbage to compost? Does the speed of the process change with temperature? Do some items break down faster than others? Why or why not?

There are so many books for young readers where gardens are integral to the story; what better place to read such stories than in gardens? Many educators have found that students often learn better when they can reflect on paper. Children who learn to observe this natural world around them can write their own stories.

From basic biology to math and reading, the garden is an educational wonderland. Parents and students can both benefit from this outdoor classroom.

­Angela O’Callaghan is the area specialist in social horticulture for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached c/o the Home News, 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074, or editor@hbcpub.com.