Slippery Rock Elementary School’s Garden Club

Since 2001, the Macoskey Center has held an after school Garden Club at the Slippery Rock Elementary school. Through the use of the school’s butterfly garden, third through fifth graders have had the opportunity to explore, learn, and be inspired by their surroundings. They have been actively involved in designing, planting, and caring for the garden. As the Macoskey Center’s Environmental Education Graduate Assistant, I have had the privilege of facilitating the club since the beginning of this semester.

Currently, the school garden movement is gaining popularity across the United States, but experiential, hands-on, learning is not a new development in education. Many early prominent philosophers, educators, and naturalists, such as Maria Montessori (1870-1952), were proponents of the benefits of school gardens. In just the few short weeks that SRU student Ruth Watson and I have been leading the Garden Club; we have seen firsthand the importance of such learning to the students. In today’s education system, the focus has shifted to “teaching to the test” and often uses a one-size fits all educational model. Instead, Garden Club gives the children the opportunity to “just be kids”, to be creative, and to take an active role in their learning. It was inspiring when one young girl in the club was very knowledgeable and excited about the topics we were covering. She often wants to take home plants and insects she finds for science fair projects.

Compared to other years, Garden Club membership is low with only nine fourth and fifth graders participating. However, I feel that this has allowed for greater personal connection and attention with the students. We have used a loosely based-theme of “Gardens as Habitats” and have focused on such topics as trees, weather, the importance of mulching, and composting.

Last week, the students had the chance to get a little dirty while searching for insects and making miniature compost bins, otherwise known as rot pots, in soda bottles to take home. Making a rot pot is a fun, simple project you can do with a child of almost any age that teaches the importance of composting and just how easy it is to do. Just take a washed clear soda bottle, cut the top off, poke a few holes in the bottom, and you have a ready-made bin. Then layer compostable materials, such as nitrogen rich “green” items like vegetable and fruit waste and grass clippings and carbon rich “brown” items like straw and leaves. Add a little water and then cover the top with mesh or window screen. You can even include a worm or two, which my students were more than delighted to do! Watch and keep a record as the compost slowly turns into soil and soon you will be able to plant your favorite flower.

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” - Elizabeth Lawrence

“Every child is born a naturalist. His eyes are, by nature, open to the glories of the stars, the beauty of the flowers, and the mystery of life.” - R. Search

Alicia McCormick

Environmental Education GA