Spring Into Action With a Garden and Other Fun Learning Activities

Some teachers might believe that reducing the duration of outdoor activities in favor of more class time will further the education of their students, but they’d be wrong. It has been proven that when students can move around and play, that physical activity strengthens their learning abilities. 

This advantage is observable when educators implement school gardens into their curriculums, as allowing students to maintain a garden can have a positive impact on their learning and educational experience. To learn more about the benefits of creating a school garden, here’s an overview of the role physical activity has in learning and why gardening is an excellent classroom endeavor.

The Link Between Movement and Learning

Numerous neurophysiological studies have connected strong brain activity with physical experiences. For example, it has been documented that the kinesthetic system, which is responsible for providing awareness to the movements of the body, has receptors present in both muscles and tendons; when the body moves, the system activates.

Kinesthetic Learning

The role of physical activity in learning is seen best in kinesthetic learning, which is named after kinesiology, or the study of human movement. Kinesthetic learning is when students absorb information through physical activity and use it as a means of learning rather than reading books or listening to presentations. This type of learning can include using building blocks and arts and crafts in younger classrooms and hands-on science experiments for older students.

There are a number of benefits to kinesthetic learning, as it permits students to learn at a speed that is most comfortable to their personal skills and allows them to see the real-world applications of what they are learning more easily. This advantage is especially useful for older students in high school, as it helps them identify what potential careers they may enjoy or excel in during the future.

Kinesthetic Learners

Just as there are visual and auditory learners, some students can be kinesthetic learners. Compared to other kinds of learners, kinesthetic learners are better at processing new information when using their whole bodies. This can be as simple as pacing back and forth while memorizing for a test or going outdoors to observe wildlife. Whatever the case may be, kinesthetic learners obtain information the best when using their bodies and are best suited to teaching styles that favor physical activities and games.

The Advantages of Class Gardens

Given the role of physical activity in student learning and its benefits, it is no surprise that maintaining a garden has many positive influences on their school experience. Children can see firsthand how the produce their parents buy at the store is grown, which is especially profound for students who have lived in the city most of their lives and haven’t seen much agriculture. 

Many lesson plans can stem from their experience in the garden, including the weather’s impact on plant growth to the insects that pollinate or feed on the plants. Regardless of how you choose to incorporate gardening into your curriculum, research has shown that students who participated in a school garden scored better on academics than children in other schools, most notably in science. Additionally, maintaining a school garden will further the student’s education and social skills while giving educators an opportunity to reflect on their teaching practices!

If you’re seeking teacher recertification classes to continue your career in education, reach out to The Teacher’s Academy today. We offer information regarding the professional development requirements for teachers and many more facets of the education landscape.