Growing Together: Open Forum

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  • 1.  PRE-K garden

    Posted 01-06-2023 02:57:00 PM
    Good afternoon;
    I am new to gardening at school, and I have promised a composting garden for one of my district PRE-K programs, and I would love to hear from everyone on what works and what doesn't. 

    Does anyone have any ideas on getting Pre-K students involved?  




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    Tim Larson
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  • 2.  RE: PRE-K garden

    Posted 01-07-2023 12:01:00 PM
    Hi, Tim: I taught gardening and composting at a preschool for many years and I'm happy to say that preschoolers take to composting! I recommend starting with a worm bin and growing from there. My kids enjoyed putting the bin together and adding the worms (they liked to name them). The ongoing care and opportunities for observations make for a great school-gardening routine. We started the worm bin in the winter, so by spring the kids were ready to learn how to set up and care for the outdoor compost bin. The outdoor bin can be a bit more challenging. I had to adapt it to the height of 3- and 4-year-olds. They all liked to turn the compost, but many will need adult help doing that. I would have a garden trug nearby to fill with unturned compost. That was a more child-friendly way for kids to get their trowels and mini-garden forks in to do some turning. The kids like sifting compost onto our raised beds and they were very fond of raking fall leaves to add to the compost. Child-size garden gloves, one or more compost sifters (can be made from wood and hardware cloth), a wheelbarrow, and sturdy children's gardening tools are all important. It's also key to have everyone involved with the garden and composting there to understand how the system works and what its do's and don'ts are. Straightforward signage is a big help, along with compost orientations. The kids can help design the signs. Good luck!

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    Anne Haas
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  • 3.  RE: PRE-K garden

    Posted 01-09-2023 12:30:00 PM
    Hi Tim-

    We worked with the great folks at Subpod to put together a compost guide for educators and included suggestions for early learners.  You can download the guide from: https://subpod.com/pages/kids-gardening-compost-guide-for-educators

    We also worked with the National Head Start Association and Scotts Miracle Gro Foundation to curate some resources for early childhood educators (with a focus on how to get started) that you can find at: https://kidsgardening.org/ece-resources/.

    Hope these help!

    Sarah

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    Sarah Pounders
    Senior Education Specialist
    The Woodlands TX
    8324186540
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  • 4.  RE: PRE-K garden

    Posted 01-10-2023 12:20:00 PM
    Tim, the Junior Master Gardener program has a wonderful early childhood curricula that is targeted for children ages 4 and 5.  H This curricula focuses on plant and garden learning, food exposure, physical activities, parent engagement and use of songs/centers and children's literature to support implementation and engagement. Content of this curriculum has been written by Head Start teachers, kindergarten
    teachers, and content experts. All lessons and activities have been reviewed, tested, and creatively presented to maximize age-appropriate
    cognitive learning, while encouraging positive behavioral change for better health.  It is aligned to both National Head Start Early learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) and also aligned kindergarten educational standards.

    Here is a link to a PDF about the Early Childhood Learn Grow Eat & GO curricula and the associated curricula units, parent engagement pieces, and other classroom resources .  https://jmg.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EC-LGEG-1-pager-front-back-92721.pdf

    Additionally, here is the link to the full website with the Early Childhood information and resources including sample lessons. 
    https://jmgkids.us/earlychildhood/

    Please feel free to contact me or our staff at the International Junior Master Gardener program office at Texas A&M University if you have  further questions for our team.  www.jmgkids.us

    Thanks Lisa

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    Lisa Whittlesey
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