Teaching & Learning in the School Garden: Summer 2026

Upon completion of this course you will:

• Identify garden-based learning benefits and successful school garden programs and how learning theory is put into practice.
  
• Analyze program needs and cross-curricular connections, teaching strategies and challenges for curriculum integration.
• Examine developmentally appropriate garden design for youth and school gardens, that are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for all.
• Cultivate practical lessons and activities that connect to core content areas including art, music, health, nutrition, technology and more.  
• Construct project-based lessons that fulfill educational goals and focus on garden-based learning principles and learner-centered assessment.
• Collaborate and build connections with others and discuss strategies for teaching and learning in the school garden.
• Apply case studies, research, and teaching and learning methods to your own program and lesson planning.
• Assemble and present a portfolio of lesson plans, multi-disciplinary units, and authentic assessment that will enrich a classroom and/or youth program.
  

By the end of this course, you will connect with and learn from others with the same purpose and become more confident and knowledgeable garden-based learning educators, prepared with fully developed lesson plans and cross-curricular units of study.