When I am going to the classroom in Charlestown I'm trying to figure out how to fold in my expertise of gardening with the children's interests in the classroom.  The teachers help me understand what they are interested in by suggesting that we grow herbs because the children began a restaurant.

One day when I came into the classroom I noticed that the children had made a sign above their restaurant. They called it "Figs" after the famous pizza restaurant in Charlestown.  I thought, "How perfect!  I can fold in growing herbs and vegetables with their new interest of figs!"

I suggested to one of the teachers that the children could visit Figs and ask the cooks how they cook their pizza's.  The following week I came in with two kinds of herbs, Oregano and Basil along with english muffins, cheese and marinera sauce.  You guessed it!  We made english muffin pizza's!  I had a small group of children who helped me make the pizza during inquiry time, and then after all other activities ended, we shared what we learned about the herbs we used on the pizza.  We used fresh herbs so they were handed around for the children to touch and smell, and then the children taste tested!

One child took a bite then looked at me with wide eyes and exclaimed, "I love herbs!"

Gardening with Preschoolers

I am a strong advocate for children not only gardening, but simply enjoying being outside.  Whether you live in the city or country there are always ways for children to get interested in the natural world.  In Charlestown I work at a preschool that is very enthusiastic about gardening.  Each week I come in to do a gardening activity during their inquiry time.

When I first began visiting their classroom I some observation.  The teachers were very supportive of me coming in and introducing gardening and nature into the classroom.  The teachers asked me to say a few words to the children about why I was there and what I was going to be doing with them.  On my second visit I came in with a provocation, a picture.  (Provocation is an object or material that provokes the children to ask questions and think critically)

I showed them a picture I had taken of a tree after a snowstorm.  A large branch had fallen from the tree, and I was concerned about the well being of the tree.  I asked the children some questions such as, "will this tree stay alive without the branch?"  "How did the branch break off of the tree?"  These questions began a deeper conversation about what things are alive, and what things are dead during winter.

Afterwards we went on a nature walk.  Along our walk the children found many things that were alive, and some that were not.  We convened at a park where we found an extremely large branch that had moss, lots of smaller branches.  The children began collecting smaller branches and brought them back to the classroom.  They took some guesses whether they thought the branch was dead or alive, and we then put the branches in water to see what would happen.

The teachers continued the investigation while I was away for the rest of the week and each week that I returned to school the children noticed no growth, but was continuously watching it.  Finally after a month of observation one of the children noticed a bud!  Growth!  How exciting for the children.

The branches still sit in the water and the bud continues to grow.