Benefits

•  Environmental Stewardship: Builds students awareness on the importance of pollinators.

• Support Biodiversity: Enhances school grounds by creating habitat for native species.

• Hand-on Learning:  Observe plant-pollinator interactions, life cycles, and biodiversity firsthand.

Restrictions 

• Cost: buying a variety of plants can be costly.

• Space: Pollinator gardens should be outside.

• Maintenance: If planting non-native species, the garden may require more maintenance, especially in the summer months when school is not in session. 

Cross-curricular connections

•  Patterns & Symmetry: Symmetry in butterfly wings or geometric patterns in garden design.

• Color Study: Colour theory and design using vibrancy of pollinator flowers

• Land Stewardship: Learn about Indigenous knowledge and the role of pollinators in local ecosystems.

Benefits

•  Connection on Plant as Food: Helps students build that connection of where their produce comes from.

• Food Security: Growing food as a school can help support food security for the school community.

• Sustainability:  Helps students learn sustainable practices with food waste and food creation. 

Restrictions 

• Time and Maintenance: These gardens require regular care including watering, weeding, and harvesting. 

• Pests: Edible gardens can attract pests and animals, especially if growing outside. 

• Growing season: Potential growing season may be short in the school year if growing outside, however you can mitigate this by growing your garden inside. 

Cross-curricular connections

•  Data Collection:  For plant growth or harvest timing.

• Journaling: Keep garden logs or sensory journals describing changes over time.

• Nutrition Education: Discuss how growing food supports healthy eating.

Benefits

• Supports Local Ecosystems: Provides habitat and food for native pollinators, birds, and insects.

• Low Maintenance: Native plants are adapted to local soil, climate, and rainfall, making them more climate tolerant and in need of less human support.

• Environmental Stewardship: Reduces water-usage and spread of invasive species in the school community.

Restrictions 

• Initial Setup and Knowledge: May require more research to ensure plants are native to the area. 

• Slow Growth: Native plants may take longer to establish or look sparse at first. 

• Misunderstood Appearance: Native gardens can appear "messy" or wild to those used to tidy ornamental landscaping.

Cross-curricular connections

•  Invasive Species: Compare native vs. non-native species and their ecological impacts.

• Local History: Study how native plants were used by local First Nations for medicine, food, and ceremony.

• Sustainability & Climate: Discuss conservation, stewardship, and sustainable land use practices.