Gardens at West Hartford’s elementary schools provide an outdoor classroom for the students.

Morley students worked in the school’s garden on Earth Day. Submitted photo

Submitted by Susan Kamin, Growing Great Schools

After a very long winter in Connecticut, students and teachers stepped outdoors into school gardens to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2015. Activities included turning the soil and planting seeds in the gardens, which promise to provide endless opportunities for learning in the months ahead.

Growing Great Schools (GGS), a local not-for-profit, supports school gardens by providing teachers with access to curriculum tied to the common core and by organizing volunteers to build and sustain the gardens at individual schools.

“Gardens offer students and teachers a dynamic setting to learn,” says Rita Neal, a Charter Oak parent and one of the founding members of GGS. “They offer a space for interdisciplinary lessons – science, math, social studies, writing, art and more – that encourage students to become active participants in the learning process.”

Morley students worked in the school’s garden on Earth Day. Submitted photo

Almost every school in the district has a garden or is in the processing of developing one, which is a testament to popularity of gardens as an educational tool. Each school has a different spin on how they use the garden to engage students and teachers.

At Charter Oak Elementary, Neal has coordinated an after-school Garden Explorations class for students ranging from grades one to five for three years in a row. On Earth Day they prepared the soil to plant seeds of greens, peas and carrots in raised beds. They also prepared snacks from fresh grown food.

The Charter Oak pre-kindergarten class has already been out in the garden most days digging and preparing the soil for planting seeds on Earth Day.

Smith STEM students made pickles and posters to celebrate Earth Day. Submitted photo

Smith STEM School has spent the past several months planning the revitalization and expansion of an existing garden space. They have added four raised beds that will be used to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs.

The pre-K students and first graders planted seeds in the classrooms at the beginning of March using grow lights. Through hands-on activities and guest speakers, second through fourth graders will have a six-week after school program that includes lessons about growing their own food, being part of a sustainable food system and cooking healthy, seasonal dishes. The group of students will also prepare for and run the school farmers’ market in June.

“The garden is a natural fit for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum that we focus on at Smith,” said Sharon Zajack, STEM Specialist at Smith. “I have wanted a garden for the teachers and students to utilize for interactive learning. We are so excited that it is going to be a reality this spring.”

Students at Duffy Elementary School in West Hartford sample snap peas on Earth Day. Submitted photo

At Duffy Elementary School, there are a multitude of activities happening in the garden. This spring will see the addition of a potting bench for easy classroom demonstrations and a weather station which will include a gauge to read the temperature and rainfall amounts.

In March, first grade students planted micro-greens in peat pots, and those greens were served on the salad bar in the cafeteria on Earth Day. Liz Schott, the art teacher, and Andrea DeSimmone-Rafferty, the Spanish teacher have worked with students to label all the plants in the garden in English and Spanish.

Duffy plans to use one of the raised beds to “Plant a Row for the Hungry” in conjunction with Westmoor Park. There was a celebration in the garden for Earth Day and there will be one on May Day as well. Chris Torla, executive chef and owner of Trumble Kitchen and a GGS partner chef, will provide seasonal snacks for the festivities.

Growing Great Schools, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire communities to create a culture of wellness by connecting food, health and the environment. The vision of Growing Great Schools is to empower students and families to become active participants in their nutritional and physical health while caring for the planet.

Students at Duffy Elementary School in West Hartford sample snap peas on Earth Day. Submitted photo

Smith STEM students made pickles and posters to celebrate Earth Day. Submitted photo

The microgreens grown by Duffy first graders were served at the salad bar on Earth Day. Submitted photo