The Growing Classroom: An Introduction to Garden-Based Learning

Audience

Anyone interested or involved in garden-based learning

Location and Cost Options

* Life Lab's Garden Classroom on the UC Santa Cruz Campus: $300/participant (2 days) Register for upcoming Growing Classroom workshops

or

* Your site (in California): $1,500 for 1 day or $2,800 for 2 days, plus travel for one trainer.  25 participant maximum.

or

* Growing Classroom Workshops held outside of California are hosted in collaboration with the National Gardening Association. Click here to learn more.

Workshop Description

This two-day workshop, located at the amazing Garden Classroom or at your school or community garden site, is ideal for anyone interested or involved in teaching children in a garden setting. Using The Growing Classroom activity guide for grades 2-6, you’ll experience hands-on activities, learn basic science concepts and gardening techniques, and develop management strategies for a school gardening program. Find out how to teach the standards while you guide students through the natural cycles of the garden. You’ll receive Life Lab’s 480-page book, The Growing Classroom as well as many other ideas and resources. One-day Growing Classroom workshops can also be arranged.

Key Workshop Components

Learn …

* How to lead garden-based learning activities from The Growing Classroom activity guide.

* Basic gardening skills, including composting, making seed flats, preparing garden beds, transplanting, and garden planning

Discuss …

* The Life Lab approach to science education

* How to make outdoor, inquiry-based education work for different student populations

* The resources inside of The Growing Classroom activity guide, including sections on: Creating a garden, garden-based learning activities, gardening "how to's," and connecting garden-based learning to academic content standards.

Take home …

* The Growing Classroom activity guide

* An action plan for your school garden

* Optional: 1 unit of semester credit available per day

View a sample Workshop Agenda

Participant Comments

The curriculum, which is incredible, will be a valuable asset to me as an instructor. The experience of being in the garden, seeing the different spaces first-hand, was exciting and thought provoking. And the different activities that we did were a lot of fun and helped me prepare for my upcoming programs. But the most important thing that I received from your workshop was inspiration! I'm so excited to bring garden education to Reno!

I learned how to integrate our state science curriculum into on-site gardening activities, teaching students how to explore, ask questions, and connect to the natural world. Now my students are showing an improved respect toward the plants and animals on campus, an enthusiasm and curiosity to visit and learn from the garden, and expanded healthy eating practices. Because of my participation in this training, my principal is supporting multiple grade levels in engaging in on-site garden activities.

One of the best organized days of hands-on activities and philosophical underpinnings I've ever seen.

I received a wonderful experience that will boost and sustain my quest for a learning garden area for my school.

This workshop far surpassed my expectations – excellent info from presenter and participants.

I came away with the knowledge that Life Lab can be used for teaching in every subject [and] lots of ides to improve our life lab.

This is exactly what we will need to further the commitment of a garden program district-wide.

View all scheduled upcoming Garden Classroom workshops

All workshops require advanced registration and deposit.

To set up a workshop for your school site, please call Life Lab at (831) 459-3833 or email us at education@lifelab.org.