We started our Garden Based Learning Program ‘Life Lab Garden’ in 2018. Gardening is not only a healthy, fun and rejoicing activity that make children enjoy together, but it also helps them develop new skills, motor skills and expand their knowledge about the science of Growing. Taking up roles in gardens develops a sense of belonging with plants, insects and other life forms and it sub-consciously develop their skills and creativity.
• Most gardens are a visual explosion of colors, tones, and shades. This helps the child to look at things creatively and develop his imagination.
• Aligning existing curriculum with garden workshops. Several experiments can be aligned with the NCERT textbook syllabus. Following Sessions are designed:
A. About Soil and its nutrients: Discussing different soils, soil health & pH, Soil nutrients, the process of maintaining soil health, crops according to the soil, etc.
B. About Manures and fertilizers: Observing and learning the process of manure making and its benefits, further analysis of fertilizers, uses and effects on the ecosystem.
C. Changing Leaves and Changing seasons: Observing changes around them and relate with changing seasons, critically thinking relation of different life forms in an ecosystem and weather, the process of dying leaves and completion of the life cycle.
D. Different Cropping Seasons: Learning different cropping season and relating it to plants growing according to different seasons, water-intensive crops, irrigation techniques, etc.
E. Parts of plants and its roots: An insightful workshop on plant life, growth, and functions of different parts of plants.
F. Making a Scarecrow: Creatively design an effigy to shoo away birds, understanding deeper aspects of using effigies in society to demonstrate ideas or for campaigning, the significance of effigies in different cultures.
G. Poetry in Garden: A safe space to enhance imagination and writing skills by noting down their ideas.
H. Organic Colour making for Holi: Session on organic products and their benefits, an experiment with making colors using flowers and other plant-based items.
I. Growing seeds and Watering of crops: Learning how to grow, water and take care of plants. Develops responsibility and ownership in children.
J. Introduction to Ecosystem, Biodiversity, and Balance in nature: Children learn about different species, their properties and uses, helps understand interdependence in an ecosystem, mapping of plants helps provide a vivid picture of surroundings, and enhances imagination and learning skills.
Objectives and Goals of setting Life Lab Garden:
• To inculcate and develop values of
A. Empathy: A regular interaction to take care of plants
B. Responsibility: From caring of Plants
C. Creativity: Gardens provides an open canvas of natural patterns and color combinations
D. Nutrition: Learning about where fresh food comes from
E. Self Confidence and appreciation: From achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown
F. Life skills: understanding food growth, critical problem solving, timely support and care to plants, understanding inter dependency of organisms.
Our Achievement :
1.Our Green Leader Abdullah got selected for National Summit (Kids Education Revolution) where he worked and discussed idea on garden based learning.
2. The Burning Corner in school has been converted into a garden and students enjoy watching a wide variety of plants and monkey attacks at the site.
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