1. Why Garden inWhy Garden in
New York State Schools?New York State Schools?
Cornell Garden-Based Learning ProgramCornell Garden-Based Learning Program
Department of HorticultureDepartment of Horticulture
Cornell UniversityCornell University
www.hort.cornell.edu/gbl/www.hort.cornell.edu/gbl/
2. School gardens offer numerousSchool gardens offer numerous
benefits to childrenbenefits to children
Let’s take a look at the research…
3. School gardening has been shown to increase self-
esteem, help students develop a sense of ownership and
responsibility, help foster relationships with family
members, and increase parental involvement.
Alexander & Hendren (1998)
School gardening enhancesSchool gardening enhances
students’ livesstudents’ lives
4. School gardening promotesSchool gardening promotes
higher quality learninghigher quality learning
Students tend to learn more and better when they are
actively involved in the learning process.
McCormick et al. (1989)
5. School gardening promotesSchool gardening promotes
higher quality learninghigher quality learning
In a project that involved integrating nutrition and gardening
among children in grades one through four, the outcomes
went well beyond an understanding of good nutrition and the
origin of fresh food, to include enhancing the quality and
meaningfulness of learning. Canaris, Irene. (1995).
6. School gardening enhancesSchool gardening enhances
learning for all studentslearning for all students
Children with learning
disabilities, who
participated in gardening
activities, had enhanced
nonverbal communication
skills, developed
awareness of the
advantages of order,
learned how to participate
in a cooperative effort,
and formed relationships
with adults. Sarver (1985)
7. School gardening fostersSchool gardening fosters
parental involvementparental involvement
Parents who are highly involved at
school are more likely to be involved
in educational activities with their
children at home.
-National Center for Educational Statistics (1997)
8. School gardening can meetSchool gardening can meet
NYS Learning StandardsNYS Learning Standards
9. Mathematics, Science & TechnologyMathematics, Science & Technology
Classrooms using GrowLab indoor gardens and
GrowLab curriculum scored significantly higher than
control classrooms in students' understanding of key
life science concepts and science inquiry skills.
National Gardening Association (1992)
10. Mathematics, Science & TechnologyMathematics, Science & Technology
Third, fourth, and fifth
grade students who
participated in school
gardening activities
scored significantly
higher on science
achievement tests
compared to students
that did not experience
any garden-based
learning activities.
Klemmer et al. (2005)
11. Elementary school and
junior high school
students gained more
positive attitudes about
environmental issues
after participating in a
school garden program.
Waliczek & Zajicek (1999)
Mathematics, Science & TechnologyMathematics, Science & Technology
(Health, Physical Education, Family & Consumer Sciences)(Health, Physical Education, Family & Consumer Sciences)
12. After gardening,
students have shown
increased knowledge
about nutrition, plant
ecology, and
gardening.
Pothukuchi (2004)
Mathematics, Science & TechnologyMathematics, Science & Technology
(Health, Physical Education, Family & Consumer Sciences)(Health, Physical Education, Family & Consumer Sciences)
13. After gardening, children have shown more positive
attitudes toward fruit and vegetable snacks.
Lineberger (1999).
Health, Physical Education, FamilyHealth, Physical Education, Family
& Consumer Sciences& Consumer Sciences
14. Consumption of fruits and
vegetables, as a habit in
childhood, is an important
predictor of higher fruit
and vegetable
consumption as adults
and can help to prevent or
delay chronic disease
conditions.
Heimendinger & Van Duyn (1995)
Health, Physical Education, FamilyHealth, Physical Education, Family
& Consumer Sciences& Consumer Sciences
15. Health, Physical Education, FamilyHealth, Physical Education, Family
& Consumer Sciences& Consumer Sciences
After gardening, kids possess an appreciation for
working with neighborhood adults, and have an
increased interested for improvement of neighborhood
appearance. Pothukuchi (2004).
16. Career Development andCareer Development and
Occupational StudiesOccupational Studies
Gardening programming positively influenced two constructs:
"working with groups" and "self-understanding."
Robinson, & Zajicek (2005).
17. English Language ArtsEnglish Language Arts
In a summer school project that used a whole language
approach with gardening as the central theme, the
most significant student gains were in self-esteem and
achievement in reading, reading comprehension,
spelling, and written expression. Sheffield (1992)
18. Social StudiesSocial Studies
Linking storytelling with garden programs may serve to
educate children about the processes that underlie and
interweave diverse cultures' seasonal traditions.
Bowles (1995)
19. The ArtsThe Arts
Gardens are often the most
accessible places for
children to learn about
nature's beauty,
interconnections, power,
fragility, and solace.
Heffernan (1994)
Art students show the fruits of their creativity inspired by beautiful outdoor settings.
22. Gardening can bring any aspect ofGardening can bring any aspect of
the curriculum to lifethe curriculum to life
Gardening isn’t an add on, but rather an
integral part of the whole curriculum.
23. We rely on plants for everythingWe rely on plants for everything
Gardening is a way to help us recognize our
dependence on, and connectedness with plants.
24. Garden in New York State Schools!Garden in New York State Schools!
Educators in gardening classrooms and schools
have little doubt about the benefits students
reap from their living garden laboratories.
Numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits of gardening with students. The following are just a few examples.
Studies in Bexar County, Texas showed that school gardening increased self-esteem, helped students develop a sense of ownership and responsibility, helped foster relationships with family members, and increased parental involvement. (Alexander, J. & D. Hendren, (1998). Bexar County Master Gardener Classroom Garden Research Project: Final Report. San Antonio, Texas.)
Studies have shown that fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students developed better interpersonal relationship skills after participating in a garden program. (Waliczek, T. & J. Zajicek. (1998). The Effect of a School Garden Program on Self-Esteem and Interpersonal Relationships of Children and Adolescents. Hort Technology (submitted).
Horticulture is a profession deeply rooted in community involvement and activity-based learning, both of which are key elements to the development of children.
McCormick reports that students tend to learn more and better when they are actively involved in the learning process. (McCormick, F., D. Cox, and G. Miller. (1989). Experiential Needs of Students in Agriculture Programs. The Agriculture Education Magazine. 62(4): 11-12,23.)
In a project that involved integrating nutrition and gardening among children in grades one through four, the outcomes have gone well beyond an understanding of good nutrition and the origin of fresh food, to include enhancing the quality and meaningfulness of learning. Canaris, Irene. (1995). Growing Foods for Growing Minds: Integrating Gardening and Nutrition Education into the Total Curriculum. Children's Environments, 12(2): 264-270.
Children with learning disabilities had enhanced nonverbal communication skills, developed awareness of the advantages of order, learned how to participate in a cooperative effort, and formed relationships with adults. (Sarver, M. (1985).Agritherapy: Plants as Learning Partners. Academic Therapy, 20(4). 389-396.)
Parents who are highly involved at school are more likely to be involved in educational activities with their children at home. (National Center for Educational Statistics, (1997). Father's Involvement in Their Children's Schools. Government Printing Office: Washington, D.C.)
Parent involvement of almost any kind can improve student achievement. (Henderson, A.T., C. Marburger, & T. Ooms. (1986). Beyond the Bake Sale -An Educator's Guide To Working With Parents. National Committee for Citizens in Education, Columbia, Maryland.)
The following evidence suggests that School gardening can meet NYS Learning Standards
The National Gardening Association conducted a 1992 study of third and fifth grade classrooms using GrowLab Indoor Gardens and the curriculum. GrowLab classrooms scored significantly higher than control classrooms in students' understanding of key life science concepts and science inquiry skills.
When 300 teachers were asked in a related survey what significant gains students had made as a result of the GrowLab program, a majority spontaneously reported improvement in each of the following areas:responsibility, cooperative behaviors, enthusiasm, interest, initiative and love for plants and science,environmental awareness and concern, understanding of life science concepts, science process, problem solving, and math skillspride, confidence, and self-esteem, language arts skills.
Students in fifth grade classrooms in the same study scored significantly higher than control classes on attitude scales measuring "concern for the environment" and "confidence in ability to do science."
Third, fourth, and fifth grade students that participated in school gardening activities scored significantly higher on science achievement tests compared to students that did not experience any garden-based learning activities. Klemmer, C.D., Waliczek, T.M. & Zajicek, J.M. (2005). Growing Minds: The Effect of a School Gardening Program on the Science Achievement of Elementary Students. HortTechnology. 15(3): 448-452.)
A similar study by Leanna L. Smith and Carl E. Motsenbocker of Louisiana State University AgCenter’s Department of Horticulture also confirmed that “once-weekly use of gardening activities and hands-on classroom activities helps improve science achievement test scores.”
Elementary school and junior high school students gained more positive attitudes about environmental issues after participating in a school garden program (Waliczek, T.M., Zajicek, J.M. (1999). School Gardening: Improving Environmental Attitudes of Children Through Hands-On Learning. Journal of Environ. Hort. 17(4): 180-184.)
Gardening has been shown to increase scores on environmental attitude surveys of elementary school children. (Skelly, S. & J. Zajicek. (1998). The Effect of an Interdisciplinary Garden Program on the Environmental Attitudes of Elementary School Students. Hort Technology, 8(4): 579-583.)
"Gardens are often the most accessible places for children to learn about nature's beauty, interconnections, power, fragility, and solace." (Heffernan, M. (1994). The Children's Garden Project at River Farm. Children's Environments. 11(3): 221-231.)
Both passive and active interactions with plants during childhood are associated with positive adult values about trees. However the strongest influence came from active gardening, such as picking flowers or planting trees as a child. (Lohr, V.I. & Pearson-Mims, C.H. (2005). Children's Active and Passive Interactions with Plants Influence Their Attitudes and Actions toward Trees and Gardening as Adults. HortTechnology. 15(3): 472-476.)
A study on a youth gardening program in Detroit reports that after gardening, kids have an increased knowledge about nutrition, plant ecology, and gardening. (Pothukuchi, K. (2004). Hortiliza: A Youth "Nutrition Garden" in Southwest Detroit. Children, Youth and Environments. 14(2): 124-155.)
After gardening, children have shown more positive attitudes toward fruit and vegetable snacks and an improvement in vegetable preference scores. (Lineberger, S. (1999). The Effect of School Gardens on Children's Attitudes and Related Behaviors Regarding Fruits and Vegetables. Thesis, Texas A&M University.)
A study on a youth gardening program in Detroit reports that after gardening, kids have an increased interest in eating fruit and vegetables. (Pothukuchi, K. (2004). Hortiliza: A Youth "Nutrition Garden" in Southwest Detroit. Children, Youth and Environments. 14(2): 124-155.)
A study in Tucson, AZ showed that children who participated in the garden learned to like healthy foods. The vegetables that the children grew had a high intrinsic value. (Cavaliere, D. (1987). How Zucchini Won Fifth-Grade Hearts. Children Today, 16(3), 18-21.)
Hiemendinger and Van Duyn report that consumption of fruits and vegetables, as a habit in childhood, is an important predictor of higher fruit and vegetable consumption as adults and can help to prevent or delay chronic disease conditions. (Heimendinger, J. & M. Van Duyn. (1995). Dietary behavior change: the challenge of recasting the role of fruit and vegetables in the American diet. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61:1397S-1401S. and Crockett, S.J., & L. Sims. (1995). Environmental Influences on Children's Eating. Journal of Nutrition Education. 27: 235-249.)
A study on a youth gardening program in Detroit reports that after gardening, kids possess an appreciation for working with neighborhood adults, and have an increased interested for improvement of neighborhood appearance. (Pothukuchi, K. (2004). Hortiliza: A Youth "Nutrition Garden" in Southwest Detroit. Children, Youth and Environments. 14(2): 124-155.)
As early as 1909, Montessori had identified several benefits to children's gardens: enhances moral education, increases appreciation for nature, increases responsibility, develops patience, and increases in relationship skills. (Montessori, M. (1964). The Montessori Method. Schocken.)
Students in a one-year school gardening program increased their overall life skills by 1.5 points compared to a group of students that did not participate in the school gardening program. The gardening program positively influenced two constructs: "working with groups" and "self-understanding." (Robinson, C.W. & Zajicek, J.M. (2005). HortTechnology. 15(3): 453-457.)
In 1992, Barbara Sheffield from Columbia, SC launched a third and fourth grade summer school project that used a whole language approach with gardening as the central theme. Results of formal pre- and post-tests of achievement (Peabody Individual Achievement Test), self-esteem (Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory), and attitudes toward school (School Attitude Measure) indicated greater gains in all three areas than control classes made. The most significant student gains were in self-esteem and achievement in reading, reading comprehension, spelling, and written expression.
By linking storytelling with children's garden programs, public gardens may serve to educate children about the processes that underlie and interweave diverse cultures' seasonal traditions. Bowles, Beatrice. 1995. Celebrating Common Ground: Storytelling in Children's Gardens. Children's Environments, 12(2): 271-274.
Eames-Sheavly, M. 1994. Exploring horticulture in human culture: An interdisciplinary approach to youth education. HortTechnology 4(1).