Hi Pam, one strategy for teaching/creating garden rules that I've embraced for groups is co-creating rules via a process of brainstorming and group choice. I would typically dedicate upwards to 20 minutes for this activity and would have paper, pencils/markets, and a large poster board on hand. Essentially, I'll start by challenging all students to come up with three rules for navigating the garden space (things that will keep us, our supplies, and the plants growing here safe and things that will help us have fun). Then I'll group kids into small teams of 3-4, have them each share their three ideas with each other and jointly select three ideas to share with the entire group. All teams would have the opportunity to present their three suggestions, I'd write them up on the poster board, and then as a large group we'd see what 4-5 or so rules we could all agree upon (there's usually redundant suggestions so it's pretty easy to gravitate towards some key rules). From there we're write these finalized rules on a new piece of poster board and come up with a fun title (Great Garden Guidelines, Team X's Garden Pledge, etc.). Everyone could sign this "document" or you could have everyone do a repeat after me verbal agreement... depending on the age group it can be fun to make this sound kinda serious, something along the lines of "I solemnly swear, to do my best, each and every time I come to the garden to follow our Great Garden Guidelines."
On a side note, for me I always try to steer kids towards my favorite three guidelines:
- Keep your walking feet on the garden pathways
- Ask before you use a tool or pick a plant
- Be kind (whether that be your peers, the tools, a worm, etc.--when discussing this last one, I'd always try and get kids to share examples of what being kind actually looks like, sounds like, etc.)
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Christine Gall
KidsGardening
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2021 19:45
From: Pam Hosimer
Subject: Ideas for teaching and/or creating GARDEN RULES?
I was just wondering if anyone has some experience or tips they would like to share about introducing GARDEN RULES to students. I personally like to have this be a mix of non-negotiable safety rules along with some ideas the students come up with themselves. This allows them to be part of the process, and more likely to comply.
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Pam Hosimer
SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator and Master Gardener
University of Maryland Extension
Derwood, MD
301-367-4874
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