"As a second grade teacher, I have participated in the
hands-on, thoroughly engaging Garden of Learning activities
for some time. The California Standards-connected lessons
enhance academic knowledge by providing situations where
students connects to their environment, developing responsibility
and ownership. Garden of Learning implants the awareness
in our students that learning is not confined to the walls
of a classroom, but is ongoing and integral to our everyday
life."
Claudia Moore, 2nd Grade Teacher
"In this era devoted to standards and testing it
is difficult to launch and sustain significant experiential
education programs. Yet our research has shown that hands-on
experience is the only way to effectively produce capable
as well as competent children. The Garden of Learning program
is an excellent model of effective experience based education,
and is frequently cited by the U.C. and the State Dept. of
Education."
Dan Desmond
University of California Cooperative Extension
"Students at all levels enthusiastically participate in
weekly lessons throughout the school year, actively observing
changes in seasons, growth, plants, insects and natural habitat.
They work in all stages of garden development from preparing
the soil to harvesting and clean up to helping get ready
for the annual farmer’s market. In addition, our young
gardeners create art, play games, learn about world food
supplies and hunger, read books, do math, all connected with
the art and science of the garden. The lessons are fully
integrated with academic subjects in an active, appropriate
and motivating curriculum that teachers and volunteers are
able to successfully implement."
Irene Lipshin, Elementary School Teacher
"Garden of Learning is a model for powerful learning
experiences every student deserves. All of us can think back
to childhood and remember a learning experience retained
even to this day. Most likely, the experience included strong
motivation, individual or small-group coaching, active mental,
emotional and/or physical involvement, positive reinforcement,
and immediate knowledge of results.
Remember, learning how to ride a bike, roller skate, shoot baskets,
drive a car? The garden provides comparable, varied learning
opportunities on a weekly basis. It’s a place where science, math, reading, language arts,
social studies and fine arts lessons find real-world application
and meaning, it’s the place where textbook theories come
alive and become applicable to everyday life. I can’t
imagine our school without it!"
Cathy Morgan, Principal
"Garden of Learning is a wonderful opportunity for
our children and parents and teachers. What could be more
real world than digging in the dirt, planting seeds, caring
for seedlings, protecting plants from frost, fertilizing
the soil, and persevering for seven or eight months to see
the fruits of their labor?
Our Garden of Learning supports many core curriculum areas, in
addition to giving our students opportunities to practice many
important MegaSkills. (MegaSkills are attributes such as caring,
persevering, initiative, problem solving, common sense, etc.)
Our School Site Council wholeheartedly supports this program.
We also hope to continue to enlist help from our parents and
care providers of the students of our school in order to see
the Garden of Learning continue to bloom."
Elementary School Site council
"Through Garden of Learning, our school has developed organic gardens, giving us an outdoor classroom to enrich the educational experience for every student. It has developed a sense of unity and community with the children, teachers and parents that extends beyond our campus."Lorrie Davis, Elementary School Teacher
"Our Garden of Learning Program is one of the most in-depth and organized curriculums that I have seen on an elementary school campus. Everyday the garden program touches the life of a student in a positive way. Thank you Garden of Learning for your attention to detail. This program makes our school special."
Sam LaCara, Principal