Curriculum
“Put your hands in the soil and feed the dark, moist, gritty earth; smell the aroma of soil and plants and wakeup to your surroundings. Gardening connects us to nature. It also invites us to think like scientists. The garden is our laboratory where experimentation, observation, and evaluation are a part of the process. Gardening teaches us to compartmentalize and evaluate the garden through the lens of each particular problem.”
- Andrea Hurd
Lessons in the garden focus on several main areas: science, math, and the edible garden. Children have the opportunity to learn about nutrition, biology, ecology, botany, as well as, environmental education. The garden provides a year round opportunity for classes to explore the various plant life cycles, the seasons, wildlife, and weather.
In conjunction with our garden aide, Lilana Spindler, OUSD teachers have developed the Environmental Education Curriculum containing approximately 90 lessons that are organized by grade level and season. These lessons support California subject area lessons and many lessons align with that being taught within the classroom.
Wagner Ranch Elementary School’s garden classroom is a space where student-learning objectives can realize their hands-on potential. Curiosity and critical thinking are encouraged. Appreciation for the natural environment follows organically.
Outdoor learning activities support the indoor grade-level curriculum in a deeply tangible format. A task as simple as planting seeds in soil inspires the developing academic mind with ecological understanding. A nod to native plants’ historical and everyday uses is woven through all garden visits.
For example, 1st graders work in small teams to develop bar graphs to represent collections of beans and seeds. They study tree varieties and group them into deciduous and evergreen types. Nature journaling with an eye for scientific observation is introduced.
In 2nd grade, students observe and sort rocks by size using self-directed collaboration with their peers. In depth soil sampling and observation are documented in nature journals. They also make bricks in a variety of ways following historical building methods and modern engineering designs.
3rd graders study water’s repellant or absorptive qualities by testing a variety of natural materials. They also explore different plant propagation strategies used in the botanical world to combat weathering and erosion. Math skills are also used in the garden in an activity to introduce measurement and to calculate perimeter and area of various shapes.
4th and 5th graders explore how plants capture atmospheric carbon, how photosynthesis works and the wonders of decomposition are observed. Ks plant seeds in the spring and are introduced to botanical observation.
Lilana Spindler has managed the WR garden since 2016. The garden is generously funded by the Wagner Ranch Parents Club and ONE.
Running a school garden takes many hands, eager and helpful student hands as well as behind the scenes adult hands. Please contact her for volunteer or donation opportunities.
