This special is one of fifteen Service Learning Standards Based Models 
For more Service Learning activities Connecting Classrooms~Communities~Careers
visit bostonteachnet.org or contact  Barbara Locurto  IMPACT II @ School-to-Career, 
Boston Public Schools

Environment
School Gardens
Sowing Seeds of Service

Arts, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science

Connecting
Classrooms K-12 students
Communities school & senior center
Careers horticulture, landscape design, science
 

Where in the world can children best study the environment?
Answer: in gardens. Children who design and plant gardens combine classroom learning with environmental service. Applying principles of recycling, composting, soil science, climate, and pollution, Boston students create gardens that come in many varieties. Whether they are urban orchards, peace gardens or raised vegetable beds, they involve community partnerships. Meeting the experts leads to a cross-fertilization experience with gardening professionals who make America green. Several school gardens are intergenerational and involve senior citizens or cross-school or cross-age participation. The garden described below helps inner city second graders apply Internet research to their container garden located high among downtown buildings. Helping plant and care for this unique rooftop garden are local seniors whose folklore and wisdom enrich a challenging experiment in cultivating classroom and community. 
Resources Children's Gardens A Field Guide for Teachers, Parents & Volunteers from Common Ground Garden Program; Complete LandDesigner 3D software, Sierra Home; A Seed is a Promise, Claire Merrill
Technology search Internet, e-mail messages, use software for model, word process & scan digital photos for slide show 
Web Sites  Boston Schoolyards Initiative; Gardening for Kids; Kids Gardening, National Gardening Assn. 
Community Partners Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, local senior center

Learning Standards Classroom Activities Service Activities
o Understand human interaction with nature over time, technologies developed, benefits & consequences of our actions & the impact of science (S)  o Identify local green spaces & agree on need for a school garden 
o Describe & send plans to school administrators, family & senior center  		o Enlist parental & senior support for garden
o Exchange e-mail updates on gardening with another class
o Interview a practicing or applied scientist (S)
o Solve real world & mathematical problems using geometric models (M)
o Explore the real world to use appropriate tools in measuring objects (M) 
 		o Consult with landscape designer
o Select school roof as optimum site
o Use landscaping software to create scale model of proposed garden
o Use metric sticks & trundle wheels to measure site 		 o Invite seniors & parents to landscape designer's talk
o Display & explain model to other classes
o Share measuring & gardening tasks with seniors
o Interview a practicing or applied scientist (S)
o Solve real world & mathematical problems using geometric models (M)
o Explore the real world to use appropriate tools in measuring objects (M)
 		o Consult with landscape designer
o Select school roof as optimum site
o Use landscaping software to create scale model of proposed garden
o Use metric sticks & trundle wheels to measure site 		 o Invite seniors & parents to landscape designer's talk
o Display & explain model to other classes
o Share measuring & gardening tasks with seniors
o Communicate observation & experimentation results through models, illustrations & talks (S) 
 		o Plant seeds in classroom
o Transplant seedlings to containers
o Plant & maintain garden & compost bin
o Record plant growth on chart 		 o Photograph process
o Give progress tours for school & community-at-large
o Display results at science fair
o Use computation & estimation procedures to solve problems (M) 
 		o Estimate total seeds in a sunflower
o Observe natural growing plan of seeds
o Make a model & compare with real flower		 o Make sunflower collages from sunflower model
o Present collages to senior partners
o Gather scientific information through lab & field observation (S)
 		 o Test effects of acid rain on plants
o Track temperatures in garden sites 
o Compile & graph data results 		 o Post graphs in school
o Share with community & partners
o Use technologies to obtain, utilize & present information (S)  

 		o Prepare computer slide show on garden
o Word process accompanying script		 o Present slide show to seniors, visitors & potential students