The School Garden Curriculum

Kaci Rae Christopher

Description

• Co-op available
• Galley available on Edelweiss
• Advertising in: Mother Earth News, Permaculture North America, KidsGardening, Clearing Magazine
• National print campaign: KidsGardening, Urban Education, Orion, Sierra, School Library Journal
• Features offered to: The Journal for Experiential Education, The Teaching Home, KidsGardening
• Academic promotion to elementary education professors, outdoor learning programs
• Online outreach to Farm to School and School Garden Network, FoodWaves, and Schoolyard Farms
• Publicity and promotion in conjunction with the author's speaking engagements at conferences such as Place-Based Education Conference and Farm to School and School Garden Summit.
• Simultaneous ebook release and promotion
• Promotion on New Society Publishers' social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, our blog, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube

• The school garden curriculum that teachers have been waiting for
• This is the first book to offer a whole-school framework for garden education from K-8th grade
• 200 detailed and comprehensive weekly garden lessons arranged by grade level from K-8, and by season
• It differs from other school gardening books because it provides an integrated framework for cultivating a garden culture and creating critical thinkers
• Consistent and cumulative lessons allow students to grow their knowledge through the year and grade levels
• This curriculum models how to use ecosystem perspectives, science activities, and whole systems thinking
• Meets Next Generation science standards
• Each activity includes time frame, introduction, step-by-step instructions, and assessment
• Includes solutions for common obstacles to success such as summer maintenance, scheduling, administrative support, and creating a school-wide gardening culture Activities include seasonal activities, inquiry projects, science-skill building
• Combines science, whole system thinking, environmental education, place-based, and immersion learning

Audience
Public and private school teachers, Montessori-inspired teachers, parents, homeschoolers, community and outdoor educators, school administrators

International
School gardening initiatives are growing rapidly in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, UK, Europe, and Guatemala

Sow the seeds of science and wonder and inspire the next generation of Earth stewards

The School Garden Curriculum offers a unique and comprehensive framework, enabling students to grow their knowledge throughout the school year and build on it from kindergarten to eighth grade. From seasonal garden activities to inquiry projects and science-skill building, children will develop organic gardening solutions, a positive land ethic, systems thinking, and instincts for ecological stewardship.

The world needs young people to grow into strong, scientifically literate environmental stewards. Learning gardens are great places to build this knowledge, yet until now there has been a lack of a multi-grade curriculum for school-wide teaching aimed at fostering a connection with the Earth.

The book offers:

• A complete K-8 school-wide framework


• Over 200 engaging, weekly lesson plans – ready to share


• Place-based activities, immersive learning, and hands-on activities


• Integration of science, critical thinking, permaculture, and life skills


• Links to Next Generation Science Standards


• Further resources and information sources.

A model and guide for all educators, The School Garden Curriculum is the complete package for any school wishing to use ecosystem perspectives, science, and permaculture to connect children to positive land ethics, personal responsibility, and wonder, while building vital lifelong skills.

AWARDS

• FINALIST | 2019 Foreword INDIES: Education

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Where Permaculture and Science Meet

Kindergarten: An Introduction to Gardening
    Fall: Getting to Know the Garden
    Winter: Pollination and Seeds
    Spring: Insects and Garden Species

First Grade — Grade One: Seeds
    Fall: The Edible Parts of Plants
    Winter: Traveling Seeds
    Spring: Sprouting Seeds Experiment

Second Grade — Grade Two: Pollinators and Cycles
    Fall: Seasons and Garden Changes
    Winter: Beneficial Insects and Birds
    Spring: Observing Pollinators

Third Grade — Grade Three: Becoming Soil Scientists
    Fall: The Garden Ecosystem
    Winter: Soil Vitality Experiment
    Spring: Fostering Healthy Soils

Fourth Grade — Grade Four: Vermicomposting
    Fall: Becoming a Worm Expert
    Winter: Mini Worm Bin Project
    Spring: Worms Help Grow a Healthier Garden

Fifth Grade — Grade Five: Composting
    Fall: Composting Basics
    Winter: Compost in a Jar Experiment
    Spring: Healthy Soils and Garden Plants

Sixth Grade — Grade Six: Rain Gardens
    Fall: The Way Water Moves
    Winter: Rain Garden Design
    Spring: Building a Rain Garden

Leadership and Stewardship

Seventh Grade — Grade Seven: Renewable Resources
    Fall: Catching and Storing Energy
    Winter: Valuing Renewable and Natural Resources
    Spring: Using Small and Slow Solutions

Eighth Grade — Grade Eight: Leadership and Stewardship
    Fall: Energy Cycles and Conservation
    Winter: Designing Systems
    Spring: Supporting Biodiversity

Endnotes
Appendix A: Next Generation Science Standards
Appendix B: Resources
Index
About the Author
About New Society Publishers

Sujets

• Jardinage
• Techniques de jardinage
• Sciences de la nature
• Sciences de l'environnement
• Nature
• Référence
• 454 Life Sciences
• General
• Ecology
• General officer
• 3 (number)
• 7 (number)
• 4 (number)
• 6 (number)
• Second (disambiguation)
• Applied ecology
• 5 (number)
• Science and technology
• Biology
• Reference
• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd
• Sciences et techniques
• EDUCATION
• Ecosystems
• Habitats
• Life Sciences

Informations

• Publié par: New Society Publishers
• Date de parution: 23 avril 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9781771422949
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Advance Praise for The School Garden Curriculum
The School Garden Curriculum addresses something near and dear to my heart and probably the most critical issue in society today - the need for garden, food and ecology education for school-age children. This book will help transform society with each new generation. Well done!
- Zach Loeks, author, The Permaculture Market Garden
Not just for teachers, this hands-on, down in the dirt, fun, imaginative and eminently practical guide should be in the hands of anyone involved with kids and gardening. The author s depth of teaching experience shows in her well-thought-out lessons and projects suitable for each age group. This is a wonderful resource for introducing children to science as they discover ecological principles for themselves along with the rewards of gardening.
- Linda Gilkeson, author, Backyard Bounty
Early and regular interaction with nature is critical to healthy childhood development. With half of all people living in urban environments, school gardens offer one of the best opportunities for children to connect with the earth. Kaci Rae Christopher s School Garden Curriculum shows us how to make the most of lessons of ecology and gardening, to provide an intimate experience with nature and skills that will last a lifetime.
- Darrell Frey, author, Bioshelter Market Garden , co-author of Food Forest Handbook
Ever been enthusiastic about a school garden project only to come up against typical pitfalls - summer maintenance, how beds are allocated, it s one more chore, etc.? This book to the rescue! Simple, well-thought out solutions to better school yard gardening have arrived. Not only will you build soil, grow edibles and learn how to forage, be prepared for a healthy harvest of community building, rituals, empathy, and gratitude.
- Lindsay Coulter, David Suzuki s Queen of Green
A school garden makes the perfect outdoor classroom. As learners step off the edge of chemistry into the new lands of biology, new experiences evoke paradigm shifts and epiphanies. Life begins to write itself! For all the talk of teaching methods, learning styles, and motivational techniques, the best teachers simply point the student toward an edge. No better place to do that than in the garden. The School Garden Curriculum shows you how.
- John Wages, Publisher, Permaculture Design magazine
The school gardening movement has long been a laboratory of educational innovation. By fusing permaculture with science, Kaci Rae Christopher takes it one step further in effectively promoting systems thinking and garden ethics. Her teacher-friendly new book offers hundreds of lessons for fall, winter and spring that can be accomplished within a single class at each grade level from K-8. Highly recommended!
- Tim Grant, editor emeritus, Green Teacher magazine

I acknowledge that I inhabit a colonized land and that powerful Indigenous sciences, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and agricultural traditions are appropriated and entrenched in the gardening practices and ethics I have learned. I stand in support of food sovereignty movements that seek to decolonize and decentralize unjust systems of power and privilege, work to empower the marginalized, and promote social justice through self-determination and ecological regeneration. TEK and Indigenous sciences continue to instruct Western gardening practices and permaculture principles, and I acknowledge my privilege in acquiring and applying this knowledge. I am not an expert in these matters, but a constant learner, and my teachers are the land and those who care for it.
To all my teachers and guides, who taught me that wonder is contagious and at the heart of learning, no matter our age.
Copyright 2019 by Kaci Rae Christopher.
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane McIntosh. Cover Images iStock
Interior images: p. 1 archideaphoto; p. 15 Carpierable; p. 52: Olivier Le Moal; p. 64 idesign2000; p. 136 Crazy nook; p. 142 izumikobayashi; p. 178 justaa; p. 227 Lorelyn Medina; p. 242 pinkcoala; p. 278 sommaria / Adobe Stock.
Printed in Canada. First printing April 2019.
This book is intended to be educational and informative.
It is not intended to serve as a guide.
The author and publisher disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk that may be associated with the application of any of the contents of this book.
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of The School Garden Curriculum should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.
To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com
Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
[phone]
L IBRARY AND A RCHIVES C ANADA C ATALOGUING IN P UBLICATION
Title: The school garden curriculum : an integrated K-8 guide for discovering science, ecology, and whole-systems thinking / Kaci Rae Christopher.
Names: Christopher, Kaci Rae, 1989- author.
Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20189069317 | Canadiana (ebook) 20189069325 | ISBN 9780865719057 (softcover) | ISBN 9781550926989 ( PDF ) | ISBN 9781771422949 ( EPUB )
Subjects: LCSH : Environmental education - Activity programs. | LCSH : Gardening - Study and teaching (Elementary) | LCSH : Science-Study and teaching (Elementary) | LCSH : Ecology-Study and teaching (Elementary) | LCSH : Place-based education.
Classification: LCC GE77 .C57 2019 | DDC 372.3/57044-dc23

New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Where Permaculture and Science Meet
Kindergarten: An Introduction to Gardening
Fall: Getting to Know the Garden
Winter: Pollination and Seeds
Spring: Insects and Garden Species
First Grade - Grade One: Seeds
Fall: The Edible Parts of Plants
Winter: Traveling Seeds
Spring: Sprouting Seeds Experiment
Second Grade - Grade Two: Pollinators and Cycles
Fall: Seasons and Garden Changes
Winter: Beneficial Insects and Birds
Spring: Observing Pollinators
Third Grade - Grade Three: Becoming Soil Scientists
Fall: The Garden Ecosystem
Winter: Soil Vitality Experiment
Spring: Fostering Healthy Soils
Fourth Grade - Grade Four: Vermicomposting
Fall: Becoming a Worm Expert
Winter: Mini Worm Bin Project
Spring: Worms Help Grow a Healthier Garden
Fifth Grade - Grade Five: Composting
Fall: Composting Basics
Winter: Compost in a Jar Experiment
Spring: Healthy Soils and Garden Plants
Sixth Grade - Grade Six: Rain Gardens
Fall: The Way Water Moves
Winter: Rain Garden Design
Spring: Building a Rain Garden
Leadership and Stewardship
Seventh Grade - Grade Seven: Renewable Resources
Fall: Catching and Storing Energy
Winter: Valuing Renewable and Natural Resources
Spring: Using Small and Slow Solutions
Eighth Grade - Grade Eight: Leadership and Stewardship
Fall: Energy Cycles and Conservation
Winter: Designing Systems
Spring: Supporting Biodiversity
Endnotes
Appendix A: Next Generation Science Standards
Appendix B: Resources
Index
About the Author
About New Society Publishers

School Garden Curriculum Worksheets are available for free download at: https://tinyurl.com/SGC-Worksheets
Acknowledgments
I want to extend tremendous gratitude to the people who have supported and inspired this book and guided my teaching over the years: my mother, Tarri, who first planted my feet into warm soil; my father, Kent, who taught me to spot an elk s breath in the early morning; my husband, Sam, who shares wonder with me every day. I thank my mentors and friends who continually advise and support me: Jeff Gottfried, Katie Boehnlein, Alison Pollack, and Hannah Hostetter.
I am grateful to the staff and community of Springwater Environmental Sciences School. My deepest thanks to Dawn Bolotow in allowing me the creative freedom to learn and experiment in the garden, and Jon Vogel, who guided me as an educator and taught me how to have fun while capturing the attention of children.
Confluence Environmental Center and their innovative AmeriCorps support program gave me the opportunity to do work I love to do. Community supporters - such as Matt Brown of Food|Waves, Cathy McQueeney of Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Rick Sherman of Oregon Department of Education - have remained advocates of my outdoor and garden education work, and their own passions for garden education inspire me continuously.
I am grateful for Calypso Farm and Ecology Center and Educational Recreational Adventures for the opportunities to learn and explore my passion for generating opportunities for wonder in children. And thank you to all the local teachers, nonprofits, and community members at work around me - your commitment to revitalizing children s connection with nature inspires me daily.
I am especially thankful for New Society Publishers for offering me this opportunity to share my work. I am grateful to be a part of a community that inspires deeply thoughtful, engaging, and community-building conversations. Thank you to Rob West, Sue Custance, Greg Green, Ingrid Witvoet, Sara Reeves, EJ Hurst, and all the incredible staff members who work hard to generate and support work worth doing. I am deeply grateful for the work of Betsy Nuse in copy editing my manuscript and providing a sounding board to me, as a writer and educator.
Thanks to the teachers, parents, volunteers, and garden enthusiasts who inspire me daily with their diligence and commitment to fostering new generations of leaders and global changemakers. Together, our work makes all the difference.
School Garden Cu