My students need an outdoor classroom that will promote learning and proper nutrition using raised planters and elevated garden beds, with play fruits and veggies.
Children today spend a lot of time indoors, watching TV, or playing on tablets or video games. In our state, there is a high percentage of obesity.
I would like to create an outdoor learning environment that would not only get the children moving, but also education opportunities in nutrition.
My students are 3-5 year olds that range in abilities.
Some students are typically developing and some are not.
We live in a rural area of West Virginia. The children are very energetic, and are at an age that we can make some lifelong learning experiences.
Gardening and sustaining a healthy lifestyle are important to instill in children at a young age. We are number 1 in obesity in the nation, I would like to change that image even if it is just for a small group.
We also have a huge drug epidemic, and I believe that through a passion for healthy foods and a healthy body, that this will give these children the ability to know that this is more important than drug use.
My Project
All materials will be used for learning. The different types of play foods, a grocery store for dramatic play, and books to read about gardening will prepare them to then plant our own garden.
The children will be able to explore different fruits and vegetables, deicide what to plant, and then plant them. The Daisy Chalkboards will be used for students to keep records of what is planted, as well as keep track of growth through measurement.
When harvest time arrives, we can celebrate our healthy food and gardening choices by sharing with our families and friends what we have grown. A party to feast on what we have created with our own hands.
This activity encompasses many curricular areas, Science, Math, Language Arts, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, and finally Social-Emotional. This is not just extremely educational, but hopefully will give them skills that will last a lifetime.
I'm hoping this project will make the children healthy eaters and give them the opportunity to work hard taking care of their garden, and their bodies; that they are able to make good choices throughout their lives where eating, exercising, working hard, and saying no to drugs and trying to stay physically fit are concerned.
I, also, would like them to develop a love for the land and gardening, and know that they can do this for the rest of their lives.
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