Category: Teaching in Nature's Classroom

Core Principles Series: Engage the Senses

Being outside in the garden is the best place to engage the senses and develop social emotional skills.

Core Principles Series: Engage with Worms, Bees, Chickens, and Other Animals

Early exposure to organisms builds empathy for living things and teaches about life cycles, ecosystem dynamics, and predator/prey relationships.

Core Principles Series: Build a Diverse Community

Students observe birds on campus near the garden in order to categorize behaviors.

Core Principles Series: Let the Kids Be the Gardeners

It’s helpful to give kids some direction, but they need opportunities to try things out and make mistakes.

Core Principles Series: Make it Hands-On

A hands-on instructional approach is a cornerstone of garden-based education.

Core Principles Series: Build Self-Efficacy

When a newly planted seed germinates or a freshly harvested radish is eaten, kids wear success in their smiles.

Core Principles Series: Cultivate a Sense of Place

Cultivating a sense of place is a key – and sometimes underestimated – component of a successful garden-based education program.

Core Principles Series: Cultivate a Connection to Food

If they grow it, they’ll eat it.  It will seem less bizarre if they are part of the growing process.

Core Principles Series: Make Connections to Home and Community

A class field trip to the farmers market illustrates just one of the many connections to home and community made with garden-based education.

Core Principles Series: Immerse Yourself in Nature

Spend just 20 minutes a day immersed in nature to boost overall health.

Core Principles Series: Engage Kids in Meaningful Fitness

Meaningful fitness “exercises” the mind and body at the same time.