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From Then to Now: How Do School Gardens Change Children's Lives?
School gardens are not a new concept. As early as the beginning of the 19th century, the practice of setting up special gardens within schools began to become popular in Europe and gradually spread to all parts of the world. Through such learning spaces, children can not only cultivate flowers and vegetables, but also gain comprehensive benefits in terms of health, social development and academic achievement. The education community is recognizing the multiple values of school gardens, which are now becoming an integral part of the modern classroom.
In the school garden, children can truly experience the growth process of plant life, which is the most direct way to learn about nature.
History
The earliest school gardens were established in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in 1819. Over time, school gardens have become increasingly popular across Europe, with countries including Austria, Sweden, Belgium and France making them a legal requirement. Entering the 20th century, countries such as Austria, France and Russia each had at least tens of thousands of schools with gardens, and school gardens became part of the education system in many countries.
Course Roles
School gardens are closely linked to multiple curriculum areas. First, the integration of nature study courses with school gardens is most obvious. In the garden, children can not only grow plants with their own hands, but also observe the growth and changes of the plants intuitively and actually experience this cycle process.
Geography can also find its place in school gardens. In class, children can go to the garden to learn about the planting and marketing process. This practical learning helps them understand agriculture and scientific farming methods. From growing crops to caring for plants, all kinds of agricultural knowledge can be practiced in the garden.
School gardens foster place-based learning by creating connections across subjects including science, social studies, math, art and language arts.
STEM Education
The value of school gardens is not limited to producing vegetables and fruits, they can also integrate more complex ecosystems and integrate STEM education into daily learning. Through rainwater collection systems, photovoltaic panels, composting systems, etc., we establish a sustainable circulation system in the garden, making it an educational land laboratory.
In this land lab, children learn about food, energy, shelter, sanitation and water resources and integrate these topics into their daily classroom learning.
ImpactStudies show that school garden programs have a positive impact on children's eating behaviors. By growing their own produce, children's appetite for and consumption of fruits and vegetables increased significantly, a measure that could help combat modern health issues such as food insecurity and childhood obesity. However, the beneficial effects of school gardens in the industry still require more quantitative research to verify their impact.
Changes are ongoing in the education world, and with the promotion of school gardens, children are no longer passive recipients of traditional classrooms, but have become active participants. In the garden they learn about responsibility, teamwork and the connection between people and nature. These experiences will accompany their growth and will surely have a profound impact on their future lives.
Ultimately, school gardens foster connections between students, teachers, communities, food, and nature, guiding them toward a sustainable future.
However, as technology develops and society changes, we can't help but ask, how will these school gardens continue to impact children's lives in the future?
