Edu 422 Journal entry #7

Edu422 Journal #7
The Edible Schoolyard: Seed-to-Table Learning
Roberta Furger
Edutopia

This is an article and movie about a school in Berkeley California. It was started in 1994 by Alice Waters, who wanted to improve the school lunch program. By teaching the students how to plant a garden, grow a crop, harvest it, and then turn it into organic table food, students learn the basics of ecology, how to cooperate, build a community, set a table and learn to cook. They also learn the importance of eating well, and how to prepare healthy foods.
The students also learn how to create a compost pile. They learn about the FBI (fungus, bacteria, insects) cycle.
Teachers are trained to use the garden as the center of learning. They learn how to incorporate Social Studies, Math, and Science into the curriculum.
Community volunteers also play a critical role in the project. They work in small groups of students and provide caring, guidance and adult interaction.
This method of teaching is being touted as an alternative to the typical classroom setting for those students that learn better in a hands- on environment.

1.Would you like to use this method of teaching in your own classroom?
I love this idea. Planting a seed, and watching it grow is an amazing thing for anyone to watch. By incorporating lessons into a class garden is not only fun, but they can learn to cook what they harvest. It’s a great learning experience. Most kids probably think vegetables come from the supermarket. What a great way for them to learn.

2.How would growing a garden tie into classroom learning?
By using measurements for cooking, students incorporate math. By observing the condensation on plants, they observe the “water cycle”, and by using manure to fertilize the plants, they are learning about the “life cycle.” There are many more ways to incorporate their learning experience. This is also something they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.