What if there were a slice of California’s natural biodiversity right outside of a classroom’s window?
Barbara Ishida, a teacher at Norma Coombs Elementary, used that question to inspire her project to bring more native Californian greenery to the TK-3rd grade area of campus. With support from her PEF Teacher Grant, Ishida restored some of the school’s garden beds and turned them into new green spaces for the TK-3rd graders.
Bringing the Garden to Life
When she saw that Norma Coombs had spare garden beds on campus, Ishida knew that it would be a great opportunity for the youngest students on campus. With help from the group Common Ground, Ishida and her students worked together to restore the eight garden beds. The students planted native plants, flowers, and vegetables and were in charge of maintaining their new sprouts throughout the year.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Ishida knows firsthand that students with access to the outdoors tend to perform better academically, becoming more engaged after getting their hands dirty. Gardening time also helps students develop their social and emotional skills as they work together to maintain the gardens. To create more opportunities for nature time, Ishida implemented ‘sit spots’ in the garden where the children observed the growing plant life every day. They would take the time to meditate on their new plants and record observations in their journals. Students also learned about the life cycles of plants and animals throughout different seasons.
Watching Nature in Their Own Schoolyard
Ishida noted that some of the students’ favorite moments in their new garden were when observing the different birds and insects that helped to pollinate the flowers, especially the crowd-favorite sunflowers. They also loved watching the occasional mushrooms that would grow and help to break down any dead organic material. As a teacher, seeing the children interacting on a deeper level with nature and gaining an appreciation for the world around them was deeply moving. Ishida aspires to use these garden beds to create even more enriching gardening experiences for the Norma Coombs students going forward.
Interested in supporting teachers like Barbara Ishida and other nature-based projects? Consider donating to our Teacher Grants.
