Donations request

1. The Evolution of our Sensory
Garden

2. • A sensory garden is a garden or other plot, specifically
created to be accessible and enjoyable to visitors. The
purpose of such a place is to provide individual and
combined sensory opportunities for people.

3. • There is much research that explores the benefits of
having a Sensory Garden in schools. Below is a list of
articles and webpages for those of you keen to read a bit
more about this topic.
http://www.ediblekidsgardens.com.au/
http://www.education.com/topic/nature-
deficit-disorder/
http://www.shelburnefarms.org/sites/default
/files/science_education_thru_gardening-
naeyc.pdf
http://samples.sainsburysebooks.co.uk/978
1136583513_sample_845055.pdf
https://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/sites/default/
files/public/31_QLD_PomonaSS.pdf
http://kidcompanions.com/sensory-
gardens-for-kids-with-sensory-processing-
issues/

4. • Multi-stage learning centre: as a K-12
school we have a unique opportunity to
have an activity that both big and little kids
can enjoy together
• Expertise in gardening: as a regional
school, gardening and growing is
something very familiar to some of our
students and a perfect way to make them
feel at ease and to display their knowledge
• Connect to nature: on the other hand,
some students rarely have the opportunity
to ‘get their hands dirty’ and to connect with
nature
• Mindfulness: this can be a place of prayer
and reflection

5. • Year 11 English Studies students have been researching
and designing our garden we have been using it as
literacy project
• They have written notices for the newsletter and letters to
local businesses to request donations
• We hope to begin constructing our garden in Term 2

6. • Our garden will evolve in the enclosed space behind the
Kindergarten classrooms… a secret garden.

7. • Prayer, reflection and mindfulness
• Creative writing inspiration… sit and look and write
• Science – watch things grow
• Mathematics – measurement, area, ratio, probability
• Music – (when we get some auditory sensory components)
• Visual Arts – installations, moving art, drawing, painting,
photography
• Drama and Dance – a possible performance space
• Geography and History – models and small scale
environments
• Design and Technology – recycled products, timber garden
structures and ornaments
• Food Technology – herbs and vegetables!!!!

8. • Reward time
• Safe space for time out
• Fine motor development for students (ie. weeding and digging
and playing with small garden ornaments – dinosaurs and
fairies)
• Sensory stimulation
• Special responsibilities (watering to
be included on the jobs charts in
primary classrooms)
• Café crew herb growing and
tending
• Cross-stage interaction opportunities

9. • I’m so glad you asked!
• Bring in donations. A bag of mulch, a bucket or a cutting
are all greatly appreciated. Ornaments, spare pots,
hoses, wheelbarrows, plants, windchimes, sleepers,
tyres, shovels will all be needed.
• Let me know if you have a special skill or interest in
gardening, I’d love some more knowledge and muscle.
• Contact Ms Alana Partridge on
alana.partridge@mn.catholic.edu.au to help.