School gardens are a wonderful and exciting way to make almost any classroom curriculum come alive and show “real-life” meaning to students as they learn. A garden can allow students to participate in hands-on learning that teaches the intended subject, responsibility, teamwork, and respect for nature, others, and themselves. Gardens have been proven to help students learn better and develop a connection with the nature around us.

Young students need to develop a connection with nature from a very young age, whether it is through growing vegetables, fruits, or a variety of herbs. Edible gardens are a valuable tool that schools can use to promote healthier eating habits, appreciate locally grown food sources, teach environmental stewardship, encourage community and social development, and even instill a sense of place.

Even with the most experienced and knowledgeable teachers, the best learning comes through practical teaching, which is also a point of focus in the new NCF issued by the Government of India.

So, let’s look at the benefits of gardening for a student’s better academic results.

Passive learning is common in traditional classroom activities, such as reading aloud and listening to teachers. On the other hand, outdoor garden classroom activities bring abstract concepts to life via active, hands-on learning.

School garden programs include common gardening operations, including planning, planting, caring for, and harvesting. Plants, insects, birds, and the weather influence the educational process.

According to experimental research, students who participate in a garden-based scientific curriculum in addition to typical classroom learning do much better on science performance assessments than students in a traditional classroom-based control group. It has been proven that both girl and boy students benefit equally from these garden-based accomplishments.

Students learn about Environmental Protection

Nowadays, Many students have never been to rural areas or to a countryside village. Hence, they have never seen seeds germinate or food grow. Seeing or even eating fresh vegetables is a unique experience for some kids.

In children’s gardening and farming programs, Students learn about the benefits of fresh fruit and vegetables and the process that brings them to market. They learn about plant growth, from seeds to seedlings and flowers to fruits, and the effects of rain, drought, and other natural factors on plant life. Teaching kids about gardening can help them understand the link between nature, food sources, and other species attracted by the garden ecosystem. This sense of connection to nature creates a sense of responsibility for the surrounding environment.

Students who participate in hands-on garden classroom programs are more concerned about resource conservation and allocation than students who do not. Participants in the student gardening activities also have more positive attitudes toward nature, gardening, and environmental issues.

Hands-on Activities

Another benefit of gardening for students is active learning. Gardening and practical activities like these allow children to become active learners. Students will gain the ability to carry out activities as they learn. They become more flexible in their thinking and solve difficulties by adjusting to new obstacles nature offers. Inside the classroom, this pleasurable approach to learning can even increase concentration.

By doing gardening, children also learn about the environment and the importance of sustainability. They will discover new facts about insects and how they affect the growth of plants and vegetables.

Gardening and farming-related activities also instill a sense of community service and developing social skills inside a young student. Gardening at school encourages teamwork, individual responsibility, and a dedication to achievement by its very nature. Gardening strengthens links between school gardeners, schools, and communities, much like team sports do for student-athletes.

Reduces anxiety among students

Last but not least benefit of gardening for students is that it reduces anxiety among students. There is some evidence that exposure to beneficial soil bacteria can assist in controlling the neurotransmitters that affect our emotional state in the brain.

Exposing yourself to naturally green places to improve your mood has become a worldwide practice with proven outcomes. On the other hand, gardening is more than just another green space. It is a hands-on, outdoor classroom that teaches children self-control and mindfulness, two skills that have been found to reduce depression and anxiety.

It has been proven that even the presence of indoor plants in the classroom can also reduce stress. That is why besides having gardening programs at schools, plants are recommended in every class.