Basic breakdown of a garden class.
We adapt to the time constraints, student needs, the weather and each other.
2 Minutes Students arrive and put backpacks on picnic table and
find a spot for “2 Minutes to Yourself”. This spot can be anywhere inside the
4 corners of the garden as long as the student is visible. They need to be at
least 10 feet apart. The Garden Teacher (GT) may ask them to make a specific
observation during the 2 minutes. GT will do a count down and time the two minutes.
If there is any talking or other type of distraction the entire class will start
the two minutes again.( 5-10 minutes)
Opening Circle Once we have finished the two minutes of silence we will meet in “Opening Circle” and share observations. GT will then introduce any volunteers working with us and let the students know what the “Garden jobs” are for the day. (For example: turning compost, digging a new bed, fence building, sowing seeds, drawing a map, clearing a new area, moving mulch, etc. *) 10 minutes
Break into work groups Once they have heard all of the jobs for the day students will either be asked to choose groups or will be assigned work groups. (Usually students choose their group. They are asked to choose wisely so that we don’t have to choose for them.) Ideally each work group will have one adult to work with. The teacher will work with one group.
Get tools and get to work Each group will go to the tool shed and get their tools and get to work.
Clean up 20 minutes before the class is over the students will clean up, put their tools away and meet for “Final circle”.
At “Final Circle” all students will share a reflection or answer
the question of the day. The seventh grade classes finish with an Oli Mahalo,
or gratitude chant.
*If there is a lesson or activity a teacher would like to do with their students
in small groups they can use this time to do that. Over the course of several
weeks a teacher would have the chance to work with all of their students in
small groups on a specific project or lesson.