In raised beds alongside blacktops or tucked next to jungle gyms, gardens are showing up in schoolyards across the country. Educators have found that school gardens can be excellent vehicles for teaching nutrition, science, botany, math and history. They also provide opportunities for character-building—patience, responsibility, sharing, accepting loss, and experiencing joy. But most of all, kids like to garden, and perhaps being outside and in tune with the rhythms of nature is reason enough for school gardens.

Last spring, Shepherdstown Elementary School started a Roots and Shoots intergenerational learning garden. This spring “kindergardeners” will plant and tend their alphabet flower garden. First graders will grow sunflowers, using some of the seeds harvested from last year’s flowers. Second graders have a Peter Rabbit garden, and third graders have a scarecrow garden. Both second and third grades study botany, soil, insects, and weather while growing vegetables. Fourth graders are tending an herb garden and exploring past and present uses of herbs. Fifth graders are tending the Lawrence Hitt butterfly garden, while rearing and researching native butterflies.

This is what our youngest gardeners, the “Shoots,” have to say about the garden:

“We planted marigolds today. We put soil in newspaper (cups), and we planted them and we already watered them. We had fun! And we got to watch them for a little bit. We’re going to watch them on our windowsill.” Jade & Bela (Kindergarden)

“When our garden blooms it’s pretty.” Jojo (1st grade)

“I can’t wait to get in the sun again and have fun!” Michael (1st grade)

“I liked trying the snow peas.” Ben (2nd grade)

“I liked planting snow peas”. Colton (2nd grade)

 “I like helping in the garden.” Amanda (2nd grade)

“I like looking at the seeds grow.” Cole (2nd grade)

“We made scarecrows. They’re supposed to scare crows and birds away but they don’t always.” Josie (3rd grade)

“I like to plant seeds. We’re going to plant flowers and vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.” Emma (3rd grade)

“We like how the garden looks in spring with all the flowers and vegetables. We have parties and get to eat all the vegetables we grow. We like how the herb garden smells.” Paige and Ginny (4th grade)

“We’re studying monarchs, when they are coming back and where they go in the wintertime. Their host plant is milkweed.” Kenneth (5th grade)

“I really like being outside in the garden, I like nature and stuff.” Hunter (5th grade)