Curriculum literacies and the school garden

Abstract

This paper reports an investigation of the potential of school gardens as an effective middle years learning environment in which to teach curriculum literacies in a cross disciplinary manner. Drawing on the school garden literature and on interview data from key stakeholders at two Brisbane State primary schools, the paper provides perspectives on school garden curriculum literacy learning in the following curriculum areas: English, Mathematics or Numeracy, Science, Environmental Education, ICT and Art. The documented enthusiasm of the students when involved in school garden activities goes some way towards making the school garden an effective literacy learning environment. The study revealed that the students who were reported by teachers as benefitting most from curriculum literacy learning in the school garden were those with learning difficulties and behavioural issues. The literature often associates these students with lower literacy levels. The stakeholder comments point to an overall improvement in some skills, particularly writing and attitude to learning through meaningful integration of curriculum literacies to support classroom learning through garden lessons.