Homeschooling and the Garden Classroom

With the decline in educational funding and poor public school systems in some areas, many parents are now turning to homeschooling. Homeschooled kids have the benefit of more flexible schedules and hands-on learning. One of the greatest approaches to this style of learning is the garden classroom. Gardening is a great way for homeschoolers to learn about an array of subjects year round. There are numerous lessons that can be incorporated into the garden classroom, from learning how to grow plants and vegetables to photosynthesis, soil management, weather, and more.

While most people think summer is the only time for teaching in the garden classroom, they couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, the garden classroom can be used throughout the seasons. For instance, winter is a great time not only to plan for the garden but also to teach history. The garden classroom is a great place to teach kids about history, from simple garden history to famous historical gardens. Kids can explore garden lore and legends. They can study Bible history using biblical plants. The garden classroom provides kids with the opportunity to see how other cultures grow gardens by studying plant origins, continents, plant migration, and gardening techniques from around the world. They can also investigate the reasons why different cultures create various gardening styles, learning about symbols and beliefs. By studying other cultures, homeschoolers can also learn about geography.

Spring offers a unique chance for kids to learn about science. Seeds, for example, provide the perfect opportunity to teach your kids about the parts of a seed, how they sprout, and what they need to thrive. Kids can conduct science experiments to find out what plants do better in certain growing conditions. The garden classroom can be a wonderful place to learn about soil. Collect soil from different areas, for instance, and compare their texture, color, and water absorption. Math can be incorporated into learning through calculating planting times and germination.

Summer is also a good time for the homeschoolers to learn about flower anatomy and pollination. They can learn about the importance of wildlife and their connection with plants. Have them follow the life cycle of a butterfly by raising a caterpillar. The garden classroom is a great place to provide birds with nesting materials. Use Art in the garden classroom through drawing and craft projects. Reading and Writing can be as simple as educational books and journaling throughout the year. The garden classroom is the ideal setting for teaching your homeschoolers about Nutrition by growing and harvesting food. Did you know that even the pickiest of eaters will usually eat things they have grown? You can also teach them about the environment using organic garden approaches, composting, and recycling.

Learning about fall leaves and seed collecting takes place in autumn. This is also a good time to discuss dormancy and how you might put the garden 'to bed' for the season. Enhance the garden classroom with lessons on root function, nutrient recycling, and decomposition by planting a cover crop, like alfalfa. Learn about weather and different climates, including microclimates. As temperatures begin to cool, create weather stations for comparing rainfall during the off-season with that of spring and summer. The garden classroom can be used for teaching homeschoolers all sorts of things. With some creativity, the sky is the limit.