Connecting communities to the natural world  through gardening and outdoor education. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT 

 

 

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PEAS is dedicated to connecting communities to the natural world with a focus on school and community gardening and outdoor learning in order to inspire the preservation and conservation of our precious planet.   

PEAS IS Garden and Outdoor Education Homegrown in Austin, TX!  

PEAS began in 2011 as a collective of educators, students, parents & community members 

operating the school and community organic farm at Cunningham Elementary in Austin, 

Texas.   

 

Edible Education - What it is and why it works:  

An edible education places the child at the center of their learning. Through holistic, inclusive, culturally-responsive pedagogy and practices, students develop skills, knowledge and behaviors that enrich their academic and non-academic lives, bolster their individual, community, and global identities, and cultivate meaningful engagement with their own health, the health of their communities, and the health of the environment. A child-centered theory and practice, edible education engages every context within a child’s learning, from the traditional classroom to the kitchen and garden classrooms, the lunchroom, as well as their home and broader communities. Source: The Edible Schoolyard Project 

 

 

 

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PEAS’ Programs Reinforce AISD’s  Power Skills for  21st Century Learning (The 6 Cs)  

Collaboration - PEAS’ programs are an ongoing partnership between our educators, program managers, school leadership, parents, teachers, students, and community partners. 

Communication - Sharing and listening to understand are key components of PEAS’ programs. The more diverse experiences we have access to, whether first hand by hearing others’ stories, the more we all learn and truly become enriched. 

Connection - Our programs emphasize the importance our interconnectedness. Our relationships with each other, with all organisms on this planet, and the planet itself determine our sustainability as a species. 

Cultural proficiency - As the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink are vital to ALL citizens around the globe, a focus on their cultivation and conservation through a culturally responsive pedagogy is at the center of our edible and outdoor education lessons.  

Creativity - Our lessons take place in outdoor learning spaces that encourage creativity through open ended explorations where multi-intelligences can flourish simultaneously. 

Critical Thinking - PEAS values student-centered learning which encourages problem-based, inquiry learning opportunities for teachers and their classes. 

 

  

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Why Students Need Nature  During the School Day  & How It Benefits Their Education 

 

According to the Children and Nature Network organization, -children are spending over 50 hours a week on some type of electronic device. -children spend over 90% of their time indoors. -obesity rates among children have risen from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012. -pre-school kids are the fastest growing market for anti-depressants.  Source: http://www.childrenandnature.org/ 

According to The Edible Schoolyard, the benefits of edible and outdoor education during the school day are myriad and include:  -boosting academic performance; -improving attitudes towards math, science, and care for the environment; -increasing knowledge of science, environmental awareness, life skills, and knowledge about the natural world; -increasing student activity levels, willingness to take healthy risks; -improving student behavior.  Source: https://edibleschoolyard.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20EE%20-%20Literature%20Summaries%209.4.12%20_TOC.pdf 

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PEAS’ Programs Help AISD Meet Its Sustainability Goals for Students: Our programs directly address the following goals of AISD’s Sustainability Plan for the Food & Nature Action Areas as stated by the Austin ISD Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee. 

● GOAL: Support student access/experience to nature ● GOAL: Integrate nature-based learning into professional development and 

curriculum ● GOAL: Students have opportunities to actively engage with and learn about food 

systems through a sustainable lens  

  

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PEAS’ Programs Are Aligned with AISD’s Support of Austin Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights and Its Commitment the City of Austin's Cities Connecting Children to Nature Implementation Plan. * 

 

 

* Source - http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Parks/Planning_and_Development/Letter_of_Support_-_AISD.pdf 

 

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PEAS’ Evaluation Process  PEAS emphasizes a holistic approach to program evaluation. While it is important to collect quantitative data about key points of our programs, it is equally important to collect qualitative information in which we can often provide immediate responses on an ongoing basis.  Methods used: 

● Teacher surveys ● Student surveys ● Teacher interviews and conferences ● Student journals and field assignments ● Class observations ● Educator observations ● Class oral reflections ● Educator reflections and interviews 

 

 

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2017-18 Summary SCHOOLS x 17 

PEAS partnered with teachers and their classes at the following Austin 

elementary schools this school year: Blackshear, Blanton, Boone, Brooke, 

Cunningham, Joslin, Lucy Read Pre-K Demonstration School, Metz, Oak 

Hill, Palm, Pease, Perez, Rodriguez, Sunset Valley, Williams*, Zavala, and 

Zilker! 15 out of the 17 schools are considered economically disadvantaged. 

*after school only 

PROGRAMS x 22 

Sixteen schools received our signature Edible Education in the Garden program 

this school year. For this program, our environmental educators partner directly 

with teachers and their classes leading TEKS aligned lessons that focus on science, 

with a sub-focus on health and nutrition. Our educators typically see five classes in 

one to two grade levels on each campus two times a month from October through 

May. Zilker Elementary purchased a double program to ensure all their students 

were able to participate in garden programming at least once a month. 

 

Three schools received a second program for additional classes as we piloted our 

Connecting with Nature program that was majority funded through the COOP 

Grant PEAS received from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. These classes also 

received twice a month TEKS aligned science lessons but with a sub-focus on the 

environment and conservation.  

 

Two schools enjoyed PEAS’ Whole Child After School Programs, Williams 

Elementary and Cunningham Elementary. 

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“In our partnership with PEAS our students have made everlasting memories as they explore the magnetism in nature through outdoor learning. Many of our students live in households with limited green spaces so PEAS has allowed them to cultivate the love of growing plants through patience and love for the outdoors. The students have transferred that knowledge learned in PEAS and used it in many content areas around our school (Art, science, math, writing).”  

-Jose Mejia, Principal, Zavala Elementary         

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PEAS BY THE NUMBERS  127 classes received ongoing lessons  

from October through May! 

PEAS lead 1596 individual lessons! 

2396 students spent a total of 22,029 hours 

outside engaged in learning 

during the school day! 

 

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BIG IMPACT! TEACHERS: 

● 100% of teachers gave PEAS’s an overall rating of GOOD, GREAT, or EXCELLENT! 

● 93% of teachers said their students were VERY ENGAGED or EXTREMELY 

ENGAGED during their PEAS lessons! 

● 98% of teachers said the PEAS lessons were RELEVANT, VERY RELEVANT, or 

EXTREMELY RELEVANT to the curricula they were teaching this year! 

 

STUDENTS: 

Edible Education in the Garden Program -  

● 85% of students in the PEAS Edible Education in the Garden program tried a new 

food from the garden this school year.   

● 65% of the students liked a food from the garden that they didn’t previously like.  

● 93% of the students reported that they learned something new about science this 

year through their PEAS lessons. 

● 78% said the lessons made them more curious or interested in science.   

● 80% of the students reported that the PEAS lessons increased their knowledge 

about health and nutrition.   

 

Connecting with Nature Program 

● 100% of students who participated in our Connecting with Nature Program 

reported that they learned something new about science through their PEAS 

lessons. 

● 98% reported that they also learned something new about nature or the 

environment.   

● 93% of students said the PEAS lessons made them more curious or interested in 

science. 

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WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING: 

TEACHERS ● “PEAS provides awesome hands on opportunities for our children to go learn in the 

dirt and have fun with Earth Science. It is a very worthwhile program. The kids are really engaged, and they learn a lot of new vocabulary and concepts every week. For only meeting once every 2 weeks, they get a lot out of it.” - 1st grade teacher, Blackshear Elementary 

● “Our 5th grade students had a wonderful time participating in the PEAS program. Our instructor was so knowledgeable and patient with the students. It was wonderful to see them develop their science knowledge and skills and also their love and appreciation of the outdoors. We hope to see you again next year!” - 5th grade teacher, Boone Elementary 

● “My students really enjoyed the hands-on activities and adventures PEAS had to offer this school year. The instructors were very professional and they were always well prepared. Thank you very much for your contribution to our science classes!” - 3rd grade teacher, Blanton Elementary 

● "I hate that I had a sub when you were coming. Truthfully, I think I'm learning as much as the the students are during these lessons." - 2nd grade teacher, Cunningham Elementary

PARENTS

● “After a PEAS day my daughter comes home and doesn’t stop talking about how she loves PEAS day.”- Mom of a 2nd grader, Blanton Elementary 

● “My daughter cried because I picked her up for a doctor’s appointment just before her PEAS lesson and she didn’t want to miss it.” - Mom of 4th grader, Pease Elementary 

STUDENTS 

● “The best thing about PEAS is eating new veggies. I love them all!” - 5th grader, Cunningham Elementary 

● “When it’s a PEAS day, we get to learn while we make salads, plant things, and touch worms and bugs!” 2nd grade, Blackshear Elementary 

● “I learned to give healthy food a try because you just might like it if you try it.” - Kindergartner, Joslin Elementary 

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We are so grateful for all of our 

SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS, and PARTNERS! 

Government: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin ISD’s Science Department City of Austin Office of Sustainability 

Foundations: Whole Kids Foundation 

Nonprofit: National Wildlife Federation Keep Austin Beautiful Sustainable Food Center  

Business: Clean Tag, LLC Casa Garcia Barton Springs Mill Wheatsville Food Coop Hillside Farmacy Austin Eco Network Evolve IP 

 

And to the MANY individuals who have given generously throughout the year to 

support our ongoing programming in schools! 

 

 

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