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Several years ago I received an email that I can honestly say changed my life. It was from a local 2nd grade teacher who asked if I would be interested in stopping by ever so often and teach her class about growing “things”. I didn’t realize what I was in for.
I thought about what I was going to teach kids who are 6-7 years old. I reviewed the Jr. Master Gardeners handbook. This program is designed for 4th-5th grades.How much if it would a 2nd grader retain?
I decided that I would make up my own lesson plan, something that would be fun for the kids and they could learn something from.
For the first session I picked leaves from 4-5 species of trees, I chose hardwood, softwood, conifer and deciduous. I picked enough so that each child would be able to take each home.I passed them out and gave the class the name of the tree and some of the things that the tree was used for... Example Maples are used for furniture, bowling pins, flooring and sugar maples provide maple syrup. I explained the difference between conifers and deciduous.
I then assigned them the task of searching their neighborhoods to see how many of the trees they could identify. When I returned a few weeks later I was curious, did the kids look for any of the trees; or they just ignore the assignment and went about their business? When I walked into the classroom almost every hand went up, “hey, Mr. Paul, I found every tree you gave me, Hey, Mr. Paul I found 3 of the trees in my own yard.” I thought to myself this is going to be fun.
I do have to say the teachers that I work with have been very cooperative. I try to fit my lessons into their overall lesson plans. They were studying how to help the environment so I decided to set up a vermi-composting bin and teach them about recycling.
I got a plastic tote box and set it up as a worm bin. I brought it to class and let the kids shred the newspapers, fill the bin, add the soil and pour in the worms. Each day they added bits of their lunch scraps; apple cores, banana peels and other fruit, and vegetable scraps. I explained to them how recycling helps to reduce the impact on landfills and how it helps the environment.
The teacher relayed to me at the parent teacher conferences how many of the kids had gone home with the question, “hey mom and dad, how come we don’t recycle. Hey mom we have to start recycling to save the earth. I thought to myself maybe I am getting through to them.
I wanted to give them some exposure to growing things so I thought starting some cuttings would be a good idea. I chose coleus because they are almost foolproof and develop roots quickly.
I brought in a mother-plant and let the class cut their own start and remove the leaves and place it into the pearlite. I instructed them to check the moisture everyday and do not let it go dry. Upon my return I was immediately informed 100% rooting success and we are ready to pot them up.
Adding worm compost to the potting soil
I constructed a small light stand using a fluorescent light as a grow light stand.
For a Mother’s Day gift each child was going to make an “upside down” tomato plant as a gift for mom. They were going to start their tomatoes from seed. Decorate the hanging pot and plant it. They nurtured the seeds and grew the plants. The pots were decorated very nicely.
The week before Mothers day we planted the gifts, carefully inserting the tomato plant in the bottom of the basket. Filling it with potting soil in which the year’s supply of worm compost had been mixed, and topping the pot off with a nice planting of petunias. These were a proud bunch of kids.
T lThis isn't so hard
The feedback on this project was fantastic, some of the moms had tears in their eyes, they were so proud of the kids and what they had learned.
Each Arbor Day I get one of the local garden centers to donate a tree to plant on the school grounds. I tell the ids that in 25-30 years they can bring their children by to show them the tree they planted while in the 2nd grade.
Arbor Day tree plantigA
The American Rose Society holds an essay/art contest each year for school children across the county. Several of “my kids” won recognition for this contest.
ARS contest winners showing off their entries. I’m starting my 5th year dong this program, a brand new class eager to learn about growing things. I’m as eager as they are to get things started.
Often I will run into kids from the previous classes, some are in the 6th and 7th grade now. It’s always “hey, Mr. Paul, you should see my flower garden, or WOW I grew these huge tomatoes”.Meetings such as these make it all worthwhile.
I have concluded that if I can reach 1 or 2 kids out of a class of 25-30 to instill a love of gardening that I have been successful. If after I’m long gone one of “my kids” thinks back on their 2nd grade years and remembers that Mr. Paul taught me how to do that I will have a smile on my face.
If you ever have the opportunity to teach kids how to grow things, jump on it. You will find it most rewarding; be careful though it can become habit forming!
About Paul Rodman
Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 40 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is currently president of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan.
Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the OrganicGardening.com web site.
He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan.
His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.
Posted by carmul (from Visalia, CA) on November 16, 2007 at 1:15 AM:
What a wonderful story. I feel certain there will be many of Paul's students who'll remember him all their lives!
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Posted by Candy (from Corinth, NY) on November 16, 2007 at 10:50 AM:
I loved this story! Thank you for sharing it with us. Good luck with this years class.
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Subject: Paul Rodman teaching children
Posted by hlorac (from Tahlequah, OK) on November 12, 2007 at 5:14 AM:
What a wonderful story on teaching children about growing things.
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Posted by Annepaola (from Manahawkin, NJ) on November 12, 2007 at 9:49 AM:
This is great. I am not too good with kids my self but I think something like this is really needed. I am always surprised when people know absolutely nothing about gardening even when they have property. Very nice article, and more important a valuable volunteer service.
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Posted by petboobear (from Greenville, SC) on November 12, 2007 at 10:11 AM:
As garden therapy chair for my garden club, I started a garden club at a boy's home where the average age is 15. I am also a Master Gardener.In the beginning I asked the boys where they had experienced gardening before coming to the home. Most had not had any experiences as they were from broken homes, etc. I have been so thrilled these last 4 years that my club has supported this effort along with many community companies. We have built raised beds for vegetable gardening, established Carolina Fence gardens which are a SC tradition, and then this year we kept all that going but also established a 20' by 40' garden!! These boys continue to learn about establishing safe habitats for the wildlife as well as looking at the landscape and planning for it's beauty. I feel that some of these boys will continue to practice some form of gardening and what a good feeling that gives me. I remember watching my father grow vegetables mainly to give to the neighbors as well as for us...........and know that is where I got my "start". I know he would be so proud of this garden clubs accomplishments. We should all find a way to volunteer. There are so many groups that need us!!
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Subject: Never to Young
Posted by MDREAMS01 (from Summerville, SC) on November 6, 2007 at 10:13 PM:
Great job your doing , I think sometimes we need to stop and watch the childern. My 2 year old great grand is so proud of picking up pecans this year she had to give them a bath and say how great they are . She shouts about how big they are and oh another pecan she is very proud of them , now I wonder what are we gonna find after the cold comes in. My 7 year old grand gets pleasure from the fruits we grow from the compost pile and has the neighborhood childern wanting to plant seeds in our yard to watch them grow she was the first to have pumkins lol she is very proud of herself .
Childern don't forget the things they get praise from keep up the good work and you will have awards that is forever.
Carolyn
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Subject: The children are in safe hands !
Posted by chrissy100 (from Sydney
(Australia)) on November 5, 2007 at 6:54 PM:
How wonderful to know those dear little children are in your caring hands,
the gift you give them is priceless and lifelong congratulations! How does it feel to know that you have truly made a difference in this World and touched so many lives?
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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on November 6, 2007 at 8:38 AM:
Nice job Paul!
It is so important to expose kids to growing things in their formative years. I have also begun a project similar to yours, teaching the kids about the creatures in the garden that rely on the plants to survive. Mainly butterflies. Of course on this level the life works it's way out to many other creatures up the food chain. It always comes back to the plants.
I wish more gardeners would volunteer to teach kids! They are so eager to learn about everything to do with plants. Getting to know the butterflies and plants on a first name & hands on basis, not just as an abstract.
I was touched deeply by your article!
Thx for making a difference!
Bless you!
debnes
This message was edited Nov 6, 2007 6:39 AM
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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on November 6, 2007 at 10:01 AM:
You definitely have a gift, Paul. And what a blessing for you to be able to do such important work. I'm going to show your article to my sister, a 2nd grade teacher. Do you come to Nebraska? Ha ha!
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on November 6, 2007 at 10:50 AM:
How wonderful, Paul! I recently enlisted my 13 y o daughter to help me plant an Agastache that I had wintersowed! She eschewed the spade I had for her, choosing to dig with her hands. With no coaching she teased the roots apart a bit and back filled the dirt. Her main worry is that I will "use up her gardening" leaving with none of her own for when she grows up and has a garden of her own! (I guess her fantasies of being an adult don't include apartments.) LOL
x, Carrie
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 6, 2007 at 11:44 AM:
Reminds me of my school days and growing things in school. Thanks for the memories.
Joyce
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Posted by Dyson (from Moneta, VA) on November 6, 2007 at 4:20 PM:
Give a man a fish - feed him, teach a man to fish - feed him forever (something like that). Well done!
The interest of children in things other than that which can be purchased at the mall will bring on a better world than we currently reside in. Bravo.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on November 6, 2007 at 7:15 PM:
Paul, the only thing more wonderful than your article is the fact that you are practicing what you preach. How marvelous that these children have you in their lives. These are skills they will never forget...as soon as fingers touch soil, your lessons will come back to them, and perhaps they will teach other children. I echo Dyson...Bravo!
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on November 6, 2007 at 8:57 PM:
Well done!
Ditto to what everyone else has already said!
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Posted by wrightie (from Metro DC, MD) on November 6, 2007 at 11:31 PM:
That was a fantastic read! Methinks that you will have inspired many people to follow in your footsteps. Thank you.
