Junior Master Gardener The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program is an international youth gardening program operated nationwide through the cooperative Extension network. The JMG mission is to grow good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success, and service through a unique gardening education. HOW TO BE A JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER? (1) Identify a JMG leader/teacher. This can be an adult working with youth. They do not have to be a master gardener. One can contact the County AgriLife Extension Office for gardening resources and information. (2) Identify a group of youth. A JMG group must have a minimum of 5 youth. This can be a classroom school group, 4-H club, home school group, or an after-school program. (3) Obtain the JMG curriculum. All types of curriculum are available based on age and skill of the youth. (See JMG web site below.) (4) Register your group of youth. The registration packet is on line at www.jmgkids.us or the appendix of the JMG curricula. DIG IN AND GET GROWING! Llano County Junior Master Gardeners For the past few years, several Llano Master Gardeners have gone into the elementary classroom...mainly 3rd and 4th levels to present Jr. Master Gardener Programs. One time we talked about the needs of plants (water, air, light, etc.) in their science classes. The activity after the lesson was making "Plant People" using soda cans, nylon knee highs, grass seed, decorations, and water. We came back to the classroom after one week to observe the grass hair and take pictures. The kids loved naming their "Plant People" after school mascots, TV characters, and friends. They especially enjoyed styling or cutting the hair!!! "Literature in the Garden" was my favorite series of the JMG curriculum. We would read a story and then do an activity related to the story. After reading the story Top & Bottoms adapted and illustrated by Janet Stevens, we played "Veggie Bunk". This activity was the JMG version of the dice game Bunko and helped students understand what parts of a given plant were edible---the tops, middles, or bottoms. The JMG Program has lots of curriculum that encourages independent and group learning experiences through hands-on math, science, and language activities. These stimulate leadership development, individual responsibility, community involvement, and the development of critical think skills. -Patty Kuykendall For more information, contact the National JMG Program office! 225 Horticulture/ Forestry Bldg. 2134 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-2134 979-845-8565 or visit www.jmgkids.us  |
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