Many of the ideas for healthy food tastings are inspired by real at-home ideas on more nutritious eating. With children though it is important to bring some fun into the mix. So my 10 year old and I decided to divide the dinner plate the other evening with balsamic vinegar and fill half the plate with a chopped salad we made and shook up together -- lots of chopped baby romaine, shredded carrots, walnuts and raisins topped with a favorite salad dressing.
Healthy eating habits and student academic performance go hand and hand. In fact, there is plenty of research to support the concept of garden based learning (GBL) and how it greatly influences student academic performance on standardized tests. Thanks to the outstanding support and partnership between Hidden Valley Ranch and Seeds of Living Education, Union Pleasant Elementary School is putting GBL into action with student smiles from ear to ear!
ReplyDeleteIt is my experience as a classroom teacher that when students conceptualize and establish connections between themselves and the content we are teaching, students will have a greater understanding of any subject taught in school. These connections are made through the delicious and colorful fruits and vegetables grown in the Giving Garden.
The Giving Garden is an outdoor classroom where students experience a hands on approach to learning skills and concepts. It also a place where students develop meaningful connections between their hands on experiences and school subjects. It is this relationship the enhances academic achievement amongst students from kindergarten, all the way up to high school seniors.
Students that partake in GBL at the Giving Garden develop a sense of community here in Hamburg. Students demonstrate cooperative learning at its best. Students can take ownership of growing wonderful vegetables and fruits. They can see this process from the time students plant each seeds until it's time to harvest. Not only is this an engaging concept, but it's also really cool to be apart of!! The students can't get enough of it!
The other side of GBL is the tremendous impact it has on developing a strong sense of wellness in our community. Students are now taking responsibility for the food they eat and how it effects their lives. Not only do they understand the importance of eating healthy, but they discover that fruits and vegetables can taste AMAZING. Good bye rice crispy treats and hello Chinese lettuce wraps, with Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing of course!
As a teacher who is actively involved in making our community better every which way, GBL and The Giving Garden has been the best thing to hit Hamburg, N.Y. since our annual "Burgerfest" every summer. GBL, The Giving Garden, and S.O.L.E. make this community better by bringing health awareness to Hamburg, while incorporating it in the classrooms of every student. It promotes higher achievement in the schools and healthy life long wellness for our community's children.