The RCS Kelapa Gading Campus had started our School Science Garden since 2016. It is an effective way to use the schoolyard as a classroom, reconnect students with the natural world and the true source of their food. It is a venue for outdoor learning to teach students the value of gardening, agricultural concepts and skills. This provides an opportunity for lesson integration with several subjects such as Mathematics, Art, Health and Physical Education and Social Studies. It also allows students to develop in themselves the following key outcomes:
- God-fearing – through the new-found respect to our environment;
- Engaged – participating in all the activities in attending to the Science Garden for a greener campus;
- Passionate – participating in the lessons designed using the garden as the classroom in the application of knowledge about plants and the environment;
- Curious – through the constant exposure and exploration of the natural world
There are numerous benefits from having a Science Garden:
- Students develop the value of patience, cooperation, teamwork and social skills
- They gain self-confidence and a sense of “capableness” along with new skills and knowledge in food growing — soon-to-be-vital for the 21st century
- Garden-based teaching addresses different learning styles and intelligences; our non-readers can blossom in the garden!
- Achievement scores improve because learning is more relevant and hands-on
- Students become more fit and healthy as they spend more time active in the outdoors and start choosing healthy foods over junk food
- The schoolyard is diversified and beautified
- Graffiti and vandalism decrease because students respect what they feel some ownership in
