Theme: Service-Learning:
Helping Kids and Communities Grow
Introduction
Across the country, garden and habitat projects
are inspiring students to connect with and serve their communities.
They create "ethnic" plantings that reflect a community's
cultures, build intergenerational partnerships, involve neighbors
in schoolyard planning, teach citizens about recycling waste,
share harvests with populations in need, and create urban
oases for respite and renewal. And that's just for
starters.
When learning is linked to the real world,
it's naturally more rewarding. When students have a chance
to address genuine community needs, cultivate partnerships,
and see that their own actions can improve the quality of
life for others, education becomes meaningful and empowering,
and self-esteem flourishes.
Photo
courtesy Volunteer Hampton Roads National Youth Service
Day |
The concept behind this vision – dubbed service
learning – is gaining momentum at the national, state,
and local level. The practice goes beyond students simply
doing community service; it explicitly weaves community
service with curriculum goals so that learning; personal,
social, and civic skills; and communities are strengthened.
Read on for project ideas, inspirational stories, and resources
for integrating growing experiences, educational goals,
and community service.
Classroom Stories
and Advice
Page
2 Service
Learning: Helping Kids and Communities Grow - Explore
how garden- and habitat-related projects can bring learning
and neighborhoods to life.
Page
3
Nurturing
Literacy and Community - When at-risk first graders
asked, "Why can't we give some of our harvest to
poor people?" learning blossomed.
Page
4
Creating
a Cultural Connection - Students, parents, teachers,
and community members collaborated to design the "spirit
of nature schoolyard," which celebrates and preserves
local cultural history.
Page
5
Growing
Hope - In a historical "garden of peace and
healing," students and visitors learn to respect
diversity and the virtues that make a community healthy.
Page
6
Nutritious
Lessons: Snack Food Garden - Students, families,
and local food businesses keep this exemplary snack program
going year round.
Page
7
Cross-Grade
Buddies Plant Garden Companions - Cross-grade mentors
grow food and friendships and give back to
the
community.
Page
8
Planning
Learning Landscapes: Students Lead the Way - A student-led
project borne of a desire to make the "prisonlike" grounds
more attractive and useful for the school and community.
Page
9
Growing
Good Citizens - Fourth and fifth grade Environmental
Empowerment Club members take action in their neighborhood.
Page 10
Learning
to Give, Giving to Learn - A school garden and
nutrition study inspired eighth graders to launch a
district-wide "grow a potato for hunger" challenge.
Page
11 Resources Web
sites and grants to support your growing entrepreneurs.
Author: Eve Pranis
© 2007
National Gardening Association