At King/Robinson School in New Haven, students are getting their hands dirty in the best way possible. Under the guidance of discovery lab educator Valarie Knowles and reading support staffer Mia Edmonds-Duff, students have been busy revitalizing the school’s courtyard garden. This initiative is part of the school’s mission to engage more deeply with families through hands-on outdoor learning experiences.
Hands-On Learning and Family Engagement
Last Wednesday, students filled the newly rebuilt garden beds with soil and planted cucumber, strawberry, and squash seedlings. The project was made possible by a seedling grant that Edmonds-Duff applied for, aiming to incorporate practical learning into the school’s curriculum. The hope is that the garden will soon yield produce that students’ families can enjoy, fostering a sense of community and shared accomplishment.
In April, students from Common Ground assisted in rebuilding the garden beds, and the school community recently completed the final touches, making the courtyard ready for planting. Sixth graders Finley and Christian were among those who planted seedlings, expressing their enjoyment of working with their hands and learning outside the traditional classroom setting.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
As students returned to class, Edmonds-Duff enlisted a new group of helpers to continue the work. She taught them how to dig proper holes for the seedlings, while Knowles used tape measures from her STEM lab to map out the garden beds’ grids. Fourth graders Cecil, Isabella, Donna, Charlie, and Darrius joined in, planting seedlings and clearing weeds from the collard greens bed. As they worked, they shared new vocabulary words with each other, turning the garden into a living classroom.
Edmonds-Duff emphasized the life lesson of ‘you reap what you sow,’ highlighting the educational and moral values embedded in the project. The garden not only serves as a source of fresh produce but also as a platform for teaching important life skills and values.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
