<< Back to Curriculum | Organic Gardening, Fall 2007

Course Description:

• This class is unique because it will be the only gardening class at SNS to be able to plan and create the organic garden.
• Our outdoor classroom allows students to work collectively and individually to research and determine what type of garden, both today and tomorrow, will be best for themselves, the class, and the school as a whole, while considering its impact on those around us.
• We will learn what "organic" means, how it is relevant to our lives, and why there is a surge in the popularity of organics and locally grown foods.
• The students will determine what to plant and when (with some guidance) and Jim Shirley of Great Southern Café will show us how to cook and use what we grow.
• This semester, the students will be implementing their knowledge from math (creating and designing the garden), science (botany and ecology), social studies (the history of vegetables and food, if time allows), art (decorating the garden), language skills (group and individual projects) and learning responsibility all in a relaxed, but stimulating and creative environment.
• We are hoping to have guest "helpers," speakers, and field trips to help the students understand our goals for the garden.

Students will be evaluated according to class participation, projects and tests. Class participation will comprise the majority of a student’s grade. Projects and tests will be weighted accordingly, depending on the complexity of the assignment.

Students will take away an appreciation for the process of dreaming something into reality through purposeful work. I hope that they will have pride and ownership of the garden that they have created, along with the understanding of the concepts of the ecology of a sustainable garden.

Class Participation – Students should actively take part in class discussion and activities
Missed Assignments or Tests – It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and complete the assignment within the specified time period, or contact the teacher. Because our class does not meet every day, the students will need to be proactive in working together and with me to further the cooperative effort of the class as a whole.
Safety – We will be working with tools that can be dangerous. The students will develop a set of garden rules, and abide by them for their own safety and their classmates' safety.
Dishonesty or Disrespect – Neither will be tolerated.