Gardening
Overall Goal
Through work and study in the gardens and/or greenhouse at SOES students are introduced to a healthy lifestyle, an ethic of environmental sustainability, a sense of teamwork and will increase their understanding of the importance of biodiversity.
Grade 6 Curriculum Connections
Science and technology - Understanding life systems - Biodiversity
- assess human impacts on biodiversity, and identify ways of preserving biodiversity
- investigate the characteristics of living things, and classify diverse organisms according to specific characteristic
- demonstrate an understanding of biodiversity, its contributions to the stability of natural systems, and it benefits to humans
- Connect to STEM and Big Ideas (Fairness & Equity, Systems, Community, Diversity, Interdependence, Ability to Make a Difference, Equilibrium)
Social Studies - Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, Past and Present
- assess contributions to Canadian identity made by various groups and by various features of Canadian communities and regions
- use the social studies inquiry process to investigate different perspectives on the historical and/or contemporary experiences of two or more distinct communities in Canada
Physical and Health Education
- participate actively and regularly in a wide variety of physical activities, and demonstrate an understanding of factors that encourage lifelong participation in physical activity
- demonstrate responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others as they participate in physical activities
- demonstrate the ability to apply health knowledge and living skills to make reasoned decisions and take appropriate actions relating to their personal health and well-being
Program Description
This program is all about providing students with some hands-on/hands-in opportunities to take part in the process of growing and nurturing plants for food for both humans and pollinators. While the specific activities in the gardens and greenhouse will vary depending on the time of year and what the priorities are at that time, at the heart of them all is building a connection between students and the food that nourishes them.
Our gardens provide the added benefits of physical activity, the building of environmental awareness and stewardship skills, all while fostering teamwork and collaboration. So whether the actual activity is prepping the garden beds, building new beds, exploring compost, planting seeds, nurturing plants, weeding, saving seeds or the raft of other possibilities the gardens its an experiential way of exploring biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Success Criteria/Learning Goals
- Students will describe human impacts on biodiversity, and identify ways of preserving biodiversity.
- Students will identify the characteristics of living things, and classify organisms according to specific characteristics.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of biodiversity, its contribution to the stability of natural systems, and it benefits to humans.
Pre-Trip Activity
Here's a short video from Brother Nature at Evergreen Brickworks about Big and Small Container Gardening to have students begin to think about all the possibilities for gardening wherever they live.
Next Step Environmental Action
Have fun exploring the soil ecosystem and how worms are an indicator of soil biodiversity of the school yard. All the tools and resources you need can be found at Worm Watch
Resources
Teaching Math in the Garden is a great resource from EcoSchools that can be used in gardens and schoolyards.
For more resources please see
This activity can be done in the spring and fall