Life Lab

Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden-based education.

Life Lab > For Educators > Professional Development > Workshops at the Garden Classroom > Science Inquiry in the Garden

AudienceGraduate Education Credit

K-5 educators

Location and Cost Options

* Life Lab's Garden Classroom on the UC Santa Cruz Campus:  $150/participant.

View all scheduled upcoming Garden Classroom workshops

or

* Your school site:  $1,800/day plus travel expenses and $50/hour in travel time for 1 trainer.  25 participant maximum. 

Workshop Description

A school garden provides a rich, living, outdoor context in which students can explore and apply fundamental science skills. Learn to inspire curiosity and enthusiasm in your students as you lead effective inquiry investigations in your schoolyard or garden, based on the current content standards.

Key Workshop Components

Learn …
  •  How to teach and reinforce basic science concepts in a school garden.
  • A science inquiry model that can be adapted for use in almost any context.
Discuss …
  •  The Life Lab approach to learning.
  •  How to make outdoor, inquiry-based education work for different student populations.
Take Home …
  • A copy of The Growing Classroom for your classroom use.
  • Ideas on modifying garden lessons to develop more science concepts through inquiry.
  • Optional: 1 unit of semester credit available per day.

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5 days ago

Life Lab

It was an absolute pleasure working with such a stellar group of educators. Thank you all for the great work you are doing at MDUSD Science and Garden Education Program.

We look forward to working with you in the near future."This is the best day of work EVER!" -Direct quote from a teacher participant in yesterday’s "NGSS in the Garden" workshop at Sun Terrace Elementary by Life Lab. Whitney Cohen led classroom teachers from 6 different elementary schools in an amazing, in-depth training on how to implement the new Next Generation Science Standards in that tried-and-true method of "learning by doing". On the agenda were 3 sample lessons, lots more demoed garden activities, debriefs with deep dives into the 3 strands of the NGSS, and practical exercises on how to plan new lessons using the 5E’s and how to "NGSS-ify" existing science lessons. What a day!

Out heartfelt thanks to Battery Powered for making this workshop possible! … See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

Life Lab

PSSST!!! Keep this between us but we still have very limited spaces for our Garden Sprouts Camp for 4-6 year olds. Spaces are filling up fast.

More details and registration at www.lifelab.org/camp/ … See MoreSee Less

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Life Lab

2 weeks ago

Life Lab

🌱Moment of the Month🌱

We hosted a gathering of Central Coast school garden educators and allies in March at Life Lab’s birthplace, Green Acres Elementary School in Live Oak. It was great to see old and new friends there and share updates from many local school garden programs.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news including the moment of the month! … See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

Life Lab

Our friends at the Children & Nature Network are hosting the 2019 Children & Nature Network International Conference in Oakland, California, May 16-18, 2019. We’ll be there — and we hope you’ll join us at this premier gathering of leaders, advocates and activists from the children and nature movement. You’ll be inspired by three days of powerful keynotes, expertly-curated workshops, field trips and events designed to support the work you do to connect children, families and communities to nature. Help spread the word and get the conversation going at #CNC2019. … See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

Life Lab

Life Lab is turning 40 this year! There is nothing that would make us happier than to reconnect with you.

🌱Have you attended a Life Lab summer camp or field trip?

🐞Are you a past intern?

🍏Have we made a meaningful difference in your life?

If so, please share your story by using #MyLifeLab or email us at manny@lifelab.org. We would love to share your stories with the world! … See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

Life Lab

Come explore the garden and farm with us! Our camp days will include harvesting, making garden snacks, exploring the farm, singing, storytelling, garden caretaking, garden crafts, and investigation of the natural world. This camp serves 24 campers with a 1:6 ratio of instructors to campers, allowing us to tailor camp activities to the ages and interests of our campers.

Hurry, limited spaces are filling fast! Most slots are taken. We only have Tues/Thurs available for 4-6 year olds. ALL other ages are filled. For more info and register click here bit.ly/2FC277X?platform=hootsuite&utm_campaign=HSCampaign . For questions contact Amy at (831)-459-4035 or email amy@lifellab.org … See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

Life Lab

Thank you to everyone who attended today’s Growing Classroom workshop. We had a blast showing how to use a garden to breathe life into standards-based lessons, promote ecological literacy, encourage healthy eating, and support students’ social development.

If you would like to attend any of our workshops please visit bit.ly/2UgCrqJ to see all our future offerings. … See MoreSee Less

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4 weeks ago

Life Lab

It was such a pleasure reconnecting with all the garden educators from the Santa Cruz area yesterday. You all are doing an incredible job! We hoped that you all had a great time sharing your experience in working at your school’s garden. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

If were not able to make it to yesterdays Garden Educator Gathering, please sign up for our mailing list so you can keep up to date with all of our events. We have some really exciting 40th celebrations coming soon.

bit.ly/2Tn9Prx … See MoreSee Less

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Stock up your Garden Classroom

Life Lab has been the most innovative and relevant organization in this field. From providing the best curriculum to their cutting edge professional development, we have relied on Life Lab as our go to organization for support, ideas, and collaboration.
Rachel PringleSenior Director of ProgramsEducation Outside
Life Lab provides truly inspiring training. Their breadth of experience, joy for teaching, and commitment to sharing knowledge highlight the best practices in food and garden education.
Erica CurryTraining and Professional Development ManagerFoodCorps
Thank you for such a wonderful field trip experience! Your leaders did such a great job at keeping our kids engaged.
Sheila BrickenKindergarten TeacherSan Lorenzo Valley Elementary
Terry had another awesome two weeks at Life Lab. I think he learns more there than in any other part of his year. School is great, but he’s passionate (and often dogmatic) about what he learns there.
Tara NeierCamp ParentSummer camp mom