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'At all key stages, pupils learn, practise, combine, develop and refine a wide range of skills in their work across the National Curriculum.'

The revised National Curriculum states that the opportunities for teaching and learning all the skills across the key stages can be identified when planning. Just as the use of school grounds and gardening projects can be utilised to teach the National Curriculum, they can be used to teach and reinforce the key skills outlined below.

Communication

The key skill of communication includes speaking, listening, reading and writing. Any gardening or schools grounds project will involve students in talking to one another, teachers and visitors. Students can be encouraged to give talks on the work that they have done, as well as listening to information and advice. Students will need to read around the topics that they are covering and write up their work.

Application of number

This includes developing a range of mental calculation skills and the ability to apply them in a variety of contexts. Work in the school grounds not only allows students to practise their mental calculation skills in tasks such as measuring out vegetable beds or calculating the volume of a compost box, it also allows them to utilise their skills in real life situations.

Information Technology

Information Communication Technology (ICT) does not immediately spring to mind when considering school gardens yet there is a great deal of work that students can do using their ICT skills. Use of ICT requires the ability to use a range of information sources and tools to find, analyse, interpret, evaluate and present information for a range of purposes. Examples of topics where ICT can be used effectively include:

• researching information needed for gardening projects, which plants will grow where.
• inputting data on compost heap temperature, or yield of crops
• word processing reports on the work that they have been doing.

Students can also use hardware like scanners and digital cameras to record their progress.

Working with others

Working with other people is integral to any gardening project. Students will be required to contribute to small group and whole-class discussion, and to work with others to meet a challenge. This will require students to develop social skills and a growing awareness and understanding of others' needs.

Improving own learning and performance

Pupils need to be given the opportunity to reflect upon and critically evaluate their own work and what they have learnt, and identify ways to improve their learning and performance. Whilst being involved in a gardening project and investigations students will be able to:

• identify the purposes of learning
• reflect on the processes of learning
• assess progress in learning
• identify obstacles in learning
• plan ways to improve learning

Problem solving

To develop strategies that will help students solve a range of problems faced in learning and life. Within gardening investigations or projects students will need to:

• develop the skills of identifying and understanding a problem
• plan ways to solve a problem
• monitor progress in tackling a problem
• review solutions to problems

An example of this would be if a pest were found to be attacking the plants in the garden and the students were required to come up with a solution.

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