Author: Holly Putnam

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 42

ISBN-13:

National and local civic leaders recognize the importance of supporting conditions that create a world-class STEM workforce. Programs that encourage all students, including women and minorities in mathematics and science are showing promise. Health initiatives such as the, Let's Move, health campaign and the ASCD's Whole Child Initiative support children so that they are healthy, safe, and ready to learn have similarly made positive impacts. Childhood obesity is a nationwide problem that requires educators to assist children in learning how and why to make healthier food choices. Studies indicate that children may eat more fruits and vegetables when they grow it themselves in the garden (Heim, Strang, and Ireland, 2009). Schools across the country need to involve students in gardening to improve student health. There is evidence to suggest that adults who spent time outside as a child in a garden or informally out in nature may be predisposed to make career choices in environmental education (Wells and Lekies, 2006). Given the environmental issues today, stewardship of the Earth must be a national priority. K-5 educators need accessible resources on implementing models to foster innovative programs that address these problems in a successful manner. This Project presents a resource guide to enable teachers to implement a sustainable school garden program that addresses the need to promote their K-5 students' multi-sensory engagement in STEM disciplines (Williams and Brown, 2012), and the Whole Child Initiative: All children healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. Implementation of the 5E model and adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are included as a starting point to fostering interest in science among young children.