Transforming Education for Sustainable Living Through Kitchen Gardens and Community Engagement

1. “experts have called for changes in human behaviour towards ways of living that are ecologically, economically , socially, culturally and personally more sustainable. If such behavioural changes are to occur, education will have a crucial role to play”

2. Sustainability Education Kitchen Gardens and Grounds Management

3. Overview • Sustainable Grounds Management • Permaculture • The Kitchen Garden • Premier’s Scholarship Report: • ‘Food Centered Curriculum’ • Crown Street P.S • A pedagogical resource • Food Cycle learning • Curriculum integration • NAPLAN • A thematic approach • Sustainability Action Process • Resources and Tips

4. Sustainable Grounds Management • Management of resources: • Energy • Biodiversity • Waste • Water • Facilitates sustainable education facilities for students • Incorporate our natural and cultural heritage • Provides valuable amenities for whole school community

5. Sustainable Management Strategies:Permaculture

7. Premier’s Teachers Scholarship report A Food Centered Curriculum: How permaculture taught through school kitchen gardening can lead to more sustainable schools and communities and a more sustainable future Kathleen Gannon Carlingford West Public School

8. Summary of benefits for students: • Increased self esteemand improved diet to reduce obesity and depression • Foster leadership and teamwork skills • Gain respect, knowledge and understanding of the environment and the challenges facing the planet • Possibility for an interdisciplinary, holistic approach catering to all learning styles • Participation in physical activity • Understanding of food • Food preparation and cooking skills

9. Summary of benefits for the school and the community: • increased parent and community participation and partnerships • decreased vandalism • increased pride in schools • developing awareness of the environment • engagement with students in their learning • assisting the school to meet their sustainability targets • improving the school’s profile in the community • various health benefits in the community

10. Summary of benefits for teachers: • a wealth of teaching and learning opportunities • another passive/active teaching space (outdoor classroom) • integrates gardening and cooking activities across a range of Key Learning Areas and outcomes • provides for group work and co-operative learning activities • encourages parent and community involvement/support/partnership in lessons

11. Crown Street Public School: • Kitchen Garden • still in process (expanding gardens, building kitchen) • Grants - Slow food, Local council, NAB Schools first • Parent motivated, organised and run • Rotated 4 Week program (2 hours per week) • 2 weeks in the garden • 2 weeks in the kitchen • Empowering teachers to engage with the project • Developing meaningful learning activities

12. Crown Street Kitchen Garden-a special day with guest Chef Martin from Longrain Restaurant

13. A Pedagogical Resource

15. 5/6 D- Student intranet survey results: • Cooking, chopping, stirring, squeezing, mixing, cutting, shaving, rolling, peeling, slicing, washing, baking…. • Healthy Eating Pyramid • Measuring and adding of ingredients • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • Compost • Erosion • Spinach seeds grown in class then transplanted as seedlings • Planting, mulching, connecting with life in the soil (worms), watering, designing signs, replanting • “HAD FUN”

16. Kitchen Garden and NAPLAN? • Experiential learning • Meets KLA outcomes • Applied learning • Engage students with critical thinking

17. Making an interdisciplinary plan A thematic approach: • Student centered learning • Avoids compartmentalisation: holistic approach • Meaningful connections made between subjects • Content is reinforced • Needs and interests of students are addressed • Time efficiency • Maps outcomes potentially achieved

19. Kitchen Garden:

20. Stimulus: Recipe or Seeds

21. Stimulus: Soil or Steamer

22. Example Units of Work: • Kids Grow Munch and Crunch • Growing A Pizza Garden • Lunch in a Box • Courtyard Blitz • Eco kids Some of these units are available on the DET kitchen gardens curriculum support page

23. DET Kitchen Gardens Curriculum Support http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/env_ed/programs/gardens/index.htm

24. Food Safety and Handling Tips • Maintain a clean kitchen • Ensure all hands are washed • Use proper techniques with knives • Have appropriate equipment: • i.e. Coloured chopping boards • Have appropriate clothing • i.e. aprons, enclosed shoes • Food must be kept below 5 and above 60 degrees • Give adequate training to the staff, children and volunteers regarding safety and hygiene

26. Internet Resources • www.outdoorclassrooms.com.au • www.ecoliteracy.org