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Matter, energy, and organization in living systems

The Beginning of a Library Garden

Submitted by cynthiad on Tue, 10/11/2011 - 10:54
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By: 
Cynthia Domenghini, NGA Staff
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NGA's Own LibraryGardens.org

Libraries have a unique opportunity to provide a visual connection between literature and nature. Grants are available to support library gardens, but often require someone with a vision. National Gardening Association offers assistance in this area. Whether you’re interested in developing a particular theme garden or a garden that encompasses a variety of books, our professional staff of landscape architects, horticulturists and educators can help you develop your vision. Visit Library Gardens for more information about how we can design your library garden which will in turn help you as your seek support for funding the installation of this space.

The Village of Plain City Garden features several animal topiaries named after classic authors.In an effort to preserve the historic Village of Plain City, Ohio, local gardeners and members of the county Master Gardener program pulled their resources to establish a landmark for the town.

School Gardens = Natural Playgrounds

Submitted by cynthiad on Mon, 08/13/2012 - 15:07
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By: 
Cynthia Domenghini, NGA Staff
Right Side Box: 

Teachers at the K-State Center for Child Development use the produce from the garden to prepare simple dishes with their students. Here’s a recipe for Caprese Salad that is easy to make in a classroom.

Ingredients:

  • Thick slices of a Ripe Tomato (enough for each child to have at least one)
  • An equal number of slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
  • Twice as many leaves of fresh basil
  • A pinch of salt and pepper
  • Olive oil

Make sure everyone washes their hands and the work surface prior to touching the food.

Starting at the edge of a serving platter, place a slice of tomato, a basil leaf, a slice of mozzarella and another basil leaf. Continue in that pattern, forming a spiral from the outside in, until all the ingredients have been arranged. The salad should end in the center of the platter. Drizzle the salad with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper and salt.

Upon arriving at the Center for Child Development (CCD) on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, visitors quickly recognize the uniqueness of the facility.

Teaching with Trees

Submitted by sarahp on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 15:21
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“I’m really trying to encourage my students to think about their place in the world and how they can [either] make it a better place or be users and just use up what we have,” says Wearwood Elementary School science teacher Casey Berg. Casey turns to trees to help relay this message to her students.

Compost Theatre

Submitted by sarahp on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 07:02
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A Rotten Performance

“As a kid, I loved when there was some kind of performance at school,” says Lisa Fernandez, co-founder of Compost Theatre, a duo that travels to schools and festivals. “It’s fun to see that what sparks a child can often stay true for a lifetime.” The traveling show that she and her “partner in compost” Jody Schwan created years ago – and continue to revise – is meant to engage, teach, and persuade people about the process and value of composting and recycling.

Organic Garden Practices Checklist

Submitted by sarahp on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 00:16
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Most people know that organic farmers avoid polluting ecosystems and our food supply with synthetic pesticides, but the underlying philosophy is much broader. Organic farming centers on using methods that strive towards balance in the production fields that mirrors relationships found in natural ecosystem. As a result, the benefits reach much further. Organic farming:

Building a Terrarium

Submitted by sarahp on Thu, 06/17/2010 - 14:30
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By: 
NGA Staff

The following activity is adapted from the book GrowLab®: A Complete Guide to Gardening in the Classroom. This book provides everything you and your students need to know about indoor gardening, from planning and planting an indoor garden to tackling pests and other challenges. Click here for more information or to order this book.

Grocery Store Botany

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 13:51
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By: 
Sarah Pounders and Barbara Richardson

Overview

Botanists develop classification systems to make it easier to study and understand groups of plants. There are many different ways to group plants, but botanists use physical characteristics of leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and plant growth habits to classify species. This exercise will give students a chance to develop their own classification of edible plants based on direct observation of produce obtained at the grocery store.

Objectives

Students will:

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Last updated on 05/20/2013