The Lambertville Learning Garden, started by Lambertville Public School PTA three years ago, gives teachers the opportunity to educate children about diverse topics using hands-on activities and real-life experiences. The Learning Garden consists of different thematic gardens, which are planted and cared for by different grades.
This spring, the preschool planted a pumpkin patch, the kindergarten planted sunflowers and marigolds, the first graders are planting a pizza garden, the second grade is taking care of a Jack and the Beanstalk garden, the third grade is working on a heritage garden, while fourth graders are planting a snacking garden. Fifth grade students planted herbs and pansies and the sixth grade will add flower borders to the garden. Art projects, designed by Susan Johnson, will beautify the space, as well.
Lambertville Public School’s English as a Second Language teacher, Svitlana Nedoszytko, or Mrs. Ned as her students call her, are again planting the salsa garden. In September the whole school enjoyed salsa made of tomatoes, garlic, onions, and tomatillos from the garden. This spring Nedoszytko’s students decided to continue the tradition.
Nedoszytko is convinced that the main purpose of learning any language is the ability to communicate in that language. The Salsa Garden Project gave her an excellent opportunity to teach her students English language which they need to communicate ideas related to their school life, as well as to all the academic subjects learned at school. Her students planted onion bulbs in a certain pattern and counted the total amount of the bulbs in the garden and later created and discussed new patterns and math problems in the classroom. They made short notes about planting and sowing the seeds in the garden and later in the classroom, they learned about journal writing.
After editing their notes taken outside, students wrote entries in their journals. Students learned about using a fish head for planting after reading the story about Native Americans; and later set up a science experiment and planted tomatoes with a fish head, a raw egg, and no additives in the holes. In the classroom they learned about hypothesizing, observing, experimenting and made entries in their journals.
Nedoszytko’s students learn new vocabulary and new grammatical structures in a natural way which makes sense to them. During the summer, she plans on taking care of the garden. Students are encouraged to visit the garden in summer to water the plants, to watch the plants grow, and make entries related to the experiment in their Salsa Garden journals. In September the whole school will again enjoy fresh salsa, salads, healthy snacks, and more veggies from the garden. Beautiful flower arrangements will once again adorn the cafeteria tables.