Garden to Cafeteria: Thinking Outside the Classroom!

The Program:Established in 2014, the Learning Prep School garden to cafeteria program has been growing students through an innovative hands-on approach to learning valuable life, work and problem solving skills. A diverse curriculum connects students to horticulture, healthy eating and the environment through sustainability, how plants directly affect them (food, air, water etc.) and the communities they live in. This is all done through an organic working greenhouse where students propagate and maintain plants as well as a kitchen where students learn about food preparation and nutrition. The result is a unique environment where students use the skills learned to become independent thinkers and gain confidence to move forward in all aspects of their lives.

One of the unique qualities of our Exploratory Horticulture and Food Service programs is their ability to create a hands-on perspective to the traditional academic classroom setting through teachable moments. We recognize that students have different learning styles and our objective is to expose students to these disciplines through experiential learning opportunities. This is all done through:

• Development of perspective taking and processes.• Cross-Curriculum Learning• Occupational Therapy (OT)• Work Skills Training• Social Communication• Observation / Analysis• Skills Assessment• Life skills• Thinking Maps©

Curriculum:

Active Learning: The Need for Movement...

“Scientists are discovering in study after study all over the world that, at a nueronal and cellularLevel, our brains are designed for and need aerobic, voluntary exercising activities to functionat optimal level” (Summerford 2009, Pg. 10).

“Sitting in chairs for more than a brief 10 minute period interval reduces our awareness of physical sensations and emotional sensations and increases fatigue” (Cranz 1998, pg. 69).

Goals...1. Identify school wide teaching systems and strategies.2. Engage other teachers in the process to develop strategies and teaching lessons. Garden to table is a great teaching alternative for the traditional classroom setting.3. Create monthly framework and garden to table learning objectives and tasks.4. Identify cross curriculum opportunities in math, science and language arts.5. Continuously reference teaching parallels so students develop tools and strategies.

Horticulture Main Topic

Greenhouse Functions, Materials

and Tools*Greenhouse

Tour/ Overview

Career of the Month :Horticulturist

Quote of the Month:“Use food as your medicine and let medicine be your

food”

Skill of the MonthCommunication:

1. Questioning2. Students3. Teachers

4. Customers

Article of the Month:_____________

Month: September

Special Project:Fall Plant Sale

Learning Objectives:Communication Skills

Vocabulary:Compost, Sand, Soil,Fertilizer, Greenhouse, Culture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM),Maintenance, Venting,Pruner, Trowel, Shovel, Broom.

Monthly Tasks:1. Maintain vegetable garden.2. Clean plants and bring in to GH.3. Propagate plants4. Prepare for plant sale.5. Clean interior and exterior of GH.6. Stock and organize supplies

Horticulture Classroom Indoors

Food Service..

The Classroom Outdoors

Interpretation....

The End Result: Helping Students Learn…

1. Development of thinking strategies.2. Problem solving skills.3. Work and life skill development.4. Environmental and health awareness.5. Increased literacy and ability to articulate.6. 475lbs. Of fresh vegetables grown, prepared and eaten by our students and staff..

Community....

“The goal is to create and environment which stimulates the senses in turn creating a gateway to the brain and opening up learning opportunities for students, teachers and the community which supports us.”