Michigan State University Extension is offering a free Virtual School Garden Education series Spring 2022. The target audience for this series is formal and informal educators including school and community garden organizers. The goal of each session in this series is to create and take home 2-3 outlines/lesson plans designed for teaching in the garden. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the interactive nature of these webinars, each webinar is limited to 40 participants each on a first come, first served basis.
The series of six sessions will be every other Wednesday starting March 2, 2022 to May 11, 2022 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. By registering for the entire series, you will be able to attend each session using the same link – please bookmark this link to keep track of it – everyone’s program link is different.
Registration link: Virtual School Garden Education series Spring 2022
or, copy this address and paste in your browser:
https://msu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIudeyqrz0qHddIUurkgkOXrm-eAfBXxb1B
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 4:00 pm: Science in the Garden with Dr. Norm Lownds, Dept. of Horticulture and Curator of the 4-H Children’s Garden MSU. Join Children’s Garden expert Dr. Norm Lownds to learn how to guide your students’ curiosity into exploring different science concepts in the garden. Then, work with your fellow participants under the guidance of Dr. Norm and other staff to develop creative in-the-garden lesson plans.
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 4:00 pm: Art in the Garden with Jessica Wright, Education Coordinator of the 4-H Children’s Garden, MSU. The garden is full of subjects and views, from colorful flowers to interesting limb structures, which can awaken imagination and inspire artwork. Jessica Wright will lead you to use the garden to create lesson plans that enable your students to tap into their creativity.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 4:00 pm: Social Studies in the Garden with Dixie Sandborn, 4-H Horticulture Specialist, MSU. Learn how to use the garden to take your students around the world! Dixie will link the garden to social studies in fun and engaging ways that include chocolate and salsa.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 4:00 pm: Literature in the Garden with Chelsea O’Brien, Director of the Clarkston Family Farm. The garden is full of great stories and messages and Chelsea will demonstrate how to connect the garden and literature into lesson plans that go beyond journaling.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 4:00 pm: Math in the Garden with Kristine Hahn, Extension Educator, MSU. Let’s use the garden to clarify difficult math concepts and show how math can make a better garden and grow more food.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 4:00 pm: Design an educational Pollination Garden with Ellen Koehler, Place Based Educator, MSU. Learn the basic components of a pollination garden and how to design a beautiful area to attract pollinators and demonstrate ecological components.
Please contact Kristine Hahn at hahnk@msu.edu with any questions.
