Keystage
3
The development of a garden area in school grounds may seem a daunting task
that many teachers would like to attempt, but they feel it would increase
their workload. However, this does not have to be the case. Organic gardening
activities offer teachers and students innovative and environmentally friendly
ways of working across the curriculum. An added benefit is that whilst carrying
out curriculum work, the school becomes a more pleasant place to work and
play. The involvement of the students gives them ownership of their environment,
meaning that they are more likely to care, and take responsibility for it.
Organic gardening is inexpensive, environmentally friendly and provides an
example of sustainable development in action for the students.
Organic gardening does not have to be expensive, and allows students to learn
in ways that are practical. Organic gardening will help to make abstract concepts
come to life. It is important to remember that all people learn most by doing
and this is an integral part of organic gardening.
This booklet outlines a range of activities that can be carried out whilst
creating a garden in school. The area used can be as small or large as available.
If you only have a window ledge there are still activities and investigations
that can be carried out by students.
Organic gardening provides an ideal opportunity for cross-curricular work
as many of the activities relate to more than one subject. However, it is
also possible for individual subject areas to use the investigations and tasks.
Each section of the booklet refers to a particular stage in the creation
and maintenance of an organic garden. Within each section details are given
about the subject areas that this stage covers and sets out details of the
National Curriculum targets.
Organic
Gardening