School gardens and cultivating learning

Abstract

A strong positive link has been established between children’s learning and out of class activities (Bloomfield, P. 2000 & 2001; Humphries, S., Rowe, S. 2004; Palmer J, 1998). In this paper we aim to bring together key concepts from both Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship (GC) through a child’s experience of learning through growing plants in a range of settings and contexts. These include examples from British Early Years settings to ITE and African case studies. The paper argues for greater emphasis of school gardening in ITE and illustrates a selection of ways forward and work in progress.