College of EducationSTEMS²Curriculum Search

Promoting Sustainability Through a School Garden

This interdisciplinary unit is designed for use in the second grade classroom. Throughout the unit’s weekly lessons and activities, students will learn how a garden can serve as a solution towards creating a community that is self-sustaining. They will also have the opportunity to design, engineer, and create a small school garden. Students will then select the location around which a proposal will be created depending where they believe the island would best benefit from having a garden.
This curriculum is still under review by faculty. Units identified as Under Review have been submitted by educators. While they are available to view now, they are currently being reviewed by our curriculum committee for addition to this site.

Standards Aligned

Next Generation Science Standards, Social Studies (C3), Common Core Math, Common Core ELA, Na Hapena A'o

Community Partner(s)

  • Local plant nursery: Donate soil/compost and materials for students to build their garden boxes.
  • Local farm(s): Facilitate student field trip to farm and participate in activities.
  • Community partners based on where students design their authentic assessment proposal around: Invited to watch presentation of students’ final proposal.

Essential Question

How can a garden support sustainable practices to help local communities?

Enduring Understanding

  • Students will understand the meaning and importance of sustainability.
  • Students will understand the steps to create a functioning garden.
  • Students will understand how a garden can provide food sustainability.
  • Students will understand other various sustainable uses of a garden (e.g. composting, artwork, dyeing material, etc.).

Content

Author

user profile image Kristin Umakoshi

Learner Level Elementary

Primary Content Agriculture, STEM, Math