As a school, we are always looking for ways to teach in authentic and meaningful ways. Last year, we signed up for the Harvest Bins through BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. The goal of the program is to grow food so students see where their food is coming from. It connects with the Science curriculum, Math (as we graph the growth of our plants), Social Studies (natural resources), ADST Food Studies,and First Peoples Principles of interconnectedness.
My classroom of 27 students oversees our bins but they are located in the courtyard accessed by at least 6 primary classes (approx. 120 students) who also get to see our garden flourish. Our EAs also take students there to calm down and help with the watering of the garden. Students feel a sense of pride, responsibility, and calm when they are in the garden.
We hope to have students excited to start their own gardens at home. We grow fruit and vegetables in our school garden, but students also get to start seedlings to take home to encourage home gardens.
The garden provides a connection to nature, a better understanding of natural resources, and where their food comes from.
