Resources

The Garden Docent program is organized by the Garden Science Committee (GSC) and sponsored by the PTA with the support of the Earhart teachers and volunteers. Herein, we provide an overview of the committee structure, the garden docent program, the teacher and garden docent roles, and the status of the teaching gardens.

BACKGROUND & AIMS 

The GSC leads a STEAM-oriented Garden Science program with the objective to provide hands-on experience for children to learn science, reading, math, art, technology, and/or engineering through the garden. We aim to inspire the next generation of healthy, environmentally-conscious gardeners. Through the Garden Docent program, we aim to collaborate with participating teachers and provide support for garden science lessons for TK-5th grade.

GSC STRUCTURE  

 1-2 Garden Docent Co-Chairs for TK-1st and 2nd-4th and 1-2 Co-Chairs who will lead the garden maintenance and weekend garden workdays. 

GARDEN DOCENT CHAIR ROLES OPEN POSITIONS

The Garden Docent Co-Chairs’ role is to develop and help implement monthly lessons that the Garden Docents can follow for TK-3rd grade and project-based learning for 4th-5th grade. The garden curriculum is taken from various resources such as Life lab: (video lessons here) and Big Greens. 

GARDEN DOCENT ROLES AND ACTIVITIES

Each participating classroom will have at least 1 Garden Docent. OPEN POSITIONS

The structure of lessons may be 100% in the garden (weather-permitting), 100% in the class, or 50/50. All lessons/activities will be designed for 40-50 min. For lessons in the garden, we recommend planning for an additional classroom volunteer or splitting the class into two so that it is more manageable. 

Teacher and Garden Docent Collaboration: Garden Docents and teachers should coordinate the date and time of the Garden Science lessons. 

GARDEN MAINTENANCE CHAIR ROLES - OPEN POSITIONS

1) Coordinate monthly Saturday workday tasks, 2) promote the garden workdays, as needed, 3) be present during the garden workday