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Garden SuppliesResource LinksGarden rules and considerationsGarden Activity Guide - GeneralFall ActivitiesWinter ActivitiesSpring ActivitiesOEP Fieldtrip Ideas/ Special Speakers
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GARDEN SHED All garden supplies are kept in the Garden Shed (shed on the north side of blacktop with giant sunflower painting). Lock code is 7440. Please place safety first at all times when handling tools. Any users not familiar with the use and site management of heavy, sharp-bladed and pointed tools should contact us to arrange a quick training session. EEI Curriculum for all grades. All the materials are stored in the circulo room on the top shelf in folders arranged by grade. Feel free to check them out using the sign up sheet.
Here is a link to the units online: https://californiaeei.org/curriculum/history-social-science-units/		Talk about our 3 rules: safety, respect, cooperation. Use garden tools supervised only. Don't walk in or on garden beds. Listen when teacher is talking. Don't climb in trees. Ask if you want to pick something to taste from the garden. GARDEN RULES Talk about our 3 rules: safety, respect, cooperation. Use garden tools supervised only. Don't walk in or on garden beds. Listen when teacher is talking. Don't climb in trees. Ask if you want to pick something to taste from the garden.Yolo Bypass Guided Class Tours $8 per child: http://yolobasin.org/education/
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Mats for sitting. Kept in outdoor classoom area in a tiny "shed" against the wall. Garden Calendar Planting Guide from Yolo Farm to Fork including Garden Lessons: http://yolofarmtofork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-19-Garden-Guide-Handbook.pdf
BEAN SPROUTING Place wet cotton with beans in a plastic bag and hang bag in class window for sprouting. it's fun to have kids pick a variety of beans in different bags to see which ones actually sprout. Here is a resource link. Doing individual bags for each kid is wasteful so better we to do a few bags with different beans in each. https://tinyurl.com/ya2a3v7cMedicinal Herb Garden Herbalist to discuss important role of herbs/plants as medecine. Ideally we will have a medicinal herb garden bed.
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WATERING KEYS Kept in labeled container on shelf in shed. Davis Willett School amazing list of links and resources http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/willettgarden/spages/SD1252165850/sfiles Garden shed inventory: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wHJWXedkyha8mQNxublteAAFZqerbH2HUMEalC1S-3MFIVE SENSES Talked about our 5 senses. Used our senses to observe nature in the garden. Eat whole foods such as fruits / veges with eyes closed chewing slowly to focus on taste and texture. Also practice quiet sitting with eyes closed to focus on hearing/feeling wind/sun/body/breath sensations.
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Supply Wish List: Cutting boards (making herbal waters), cutting up fruit/veges. Some rulers so kids can meature plant growth. Outdoor sink & work surface. Succulant Garden - would be great to get donations in form of clippings. Whole Kids Foundation also has a good curriculum. https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/downloads/pdfs/AHA_WKF_Garden_Curriculum_rev4.2.pdfIntroduce Jane Goodall (scholastic book in garden shed). Read a little from the book. Discussed how she used all her senses in the wild to learn about chimps through careful observe. Before her work, scientists didn't believe animals could use tools. Ties into garden and how we can observe what is happening from week to week and season to season to learn about nature around us.
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Life Lab, Amazing sight for gardening in schools: http://www.lifelab.org. Check out their recourse page!Discuss Native Plant Garden vs Food Garden Show kids the outdoor classroom native garden located on north circle of outdoor classroom. Talk about how these plants are accustomed to living in hot CA climate without needing much water (drought tolerant). Compare to food gardens (look at garden beds) and talk about need for mulching, fertilizing and regular watering to help them grow. State flower is CA Poppy blooms in spring and is native plant. Can lead into discussion of things we grow in CA for food like almonds and how much water they require vs oaks that are native and don't require much water. Can also touch on acorns and how they were a big part of Native American diet.
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Two local sights that have links to more resources and examples of garden projects:
http://www.davisfarmtoschool.org/ and http://yolofarmtofork.org/		Digging in Dirt Dig in empty garden beds or pots looking for critters and have kids view them with magnifying glass (12 are in the garden shed). Talk about how worms contribute to healthy soil and about composting.
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Harvest of the month: An organization promoting healthy, local and school grown
produce. http://harvestofthemonth.cdph.ca.gov		Sun Observation and Cardinal Direction Look at sun now and observe its change in position as we enter a new season. Talk about the costal moutains in west and sierras in east as landmarks. Sunrise and set. Talk about winter planting and how we have to make sure plants actually get sun in their beds when sun is low in the sky. Talk about how Davis is divided into east, west, north and south in how we refer to the differnt regions.
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Learn about Ag . Org, great lessons that meet new Common Core Curriculum standards http://www.cfaitc.org/lessonplans/Rock Stacking The Outdoor Classroom has a pile of small rocks that are great for stacking. Kids can try and stack them on top of each other, working together or individually.
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Nature Conservancy School Programs and Lessons: https://www.natureworkseverywhere.org/#your_gardenEarth Worms 101 Page 2-4 has great worm info for kids. http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/willettgarden/sfiles/Worm_lesson_2009.pdf
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Ag in the Classroom: http://learnaboutag.org/Bird Watching Take kids outside on a quiet walk around campus and try and observe birds. How many differnt types can you see. What are they doing. Maybe find a tree to sit under. Requires kids to oserve very quietly. Talk about Yolo Bypass. More Bypass info https://www.visitcalifornia.com/attraction/yolo-bypass-wildlife-area
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Garden Bugs: Friend or Foe? https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BlhNbHRNK2csIfZPIE5ChD4dOZaL-l4YxfIPGfHMjfwGarden Tresure Hunt Present kids with specific leaves from garden plants and have them find them. This can be done in small team groups This fosters structured obeservation of the plants incuding sight and smell. Afterwards, kids can drw the leaves.
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Mindful Tasting Pick some food items from the garden or bring seasonal fruit for the kids to taste in a mindful way. Divide kids up into pairs and have them do this exerciser together. The instructions are for the kids to close their eyes when they eat the food, chewing slowly, focusing on taste, texture, flavors (sweet, sour, bitter). Same thing can be done with smelling/tasting herbs. Talk to kids about whole fresh foods and really trying to taste the food by being mindful. Talk about trying mindful eating at lunchtime with their friends as a fun practice once in a while. Ties into naturalists and how they put all their focus into careful observation.
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Herbs/Spices Bring fresh or dried (or pick from garden) and have discussion around it. Ask what herbs they use at home and talk about which ones they like/dislike. Talk about pepper corn - grows well in california on a tree. Rosemary and lavender. Talk about the important rolse herbs/spices play into our foods including herbs/plants as medecine. Does anyone use certain herbs/plants at home as medecine? Peppermint for stomach, onion or garlic for ear infections. Aloe for sun burns. Herbal teas. pine needle tea. Bring pine needles and kids can make pine needle water or peppermind water and then taste it.
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