The Garden Afterschool Program (GAP) blog is back in action! First, a bit of housekeeping. Please remember to send your kid/s to school with appropriate clothing for the colder and wetter days ahead. Extra clothes, layers, and, of course, rainproof gear are all highly encouraged. Also, safety is our highest priority, so please let us know if your child is going to miss GAP on a specific day, or if you need to make future enrollment changes. Now let’s get down to the good stuff — the fun and learning that’s happening at GAP! Each afternoon kicks off with a healthy, delicious snack. Not only do we harvest food from our own vegetable garden to eat, but everyone also gets a chance to help prep and cook. It’s a hands-on experience! After snack, each of us is responsible for washing and putting away our own dishes. (YOU’RE WELCOME!) After our classroom is nice and clean, it’s time for some outdoor fun. We spend about 30 minutes at recess (rain or shine); less if it’s a heavy downpour. Then we gather to do a Daily Outdoor Observation (DOO), where students spend 15-30 minutes observing and studying different life forms in the vegetable garden. This can include noticing the changes in the leaves as the weather gets colder; the changes that occur as plants grow and mature; and the different types of critters that visit our garden each day. Student are asked to draw or write their observations in a personal nature journal. We then spend another 15-30 minutes working in and around the school’s multiple garden areas. This is when children really get their hands dirty and become fully engaged in the wonderful art of gardening. This week we raked leaves for our compost, planted winter crops, and removed weeds from each garden area. Each week brings a new set of projects to complete. The kids make a huge contribution to the beautification of Abernethy’s gardens! We have lots of indoor activities planned to keep everyone engaged this fall, along with as much outdoor play time as the weather will allow. We hope that your child will continue to learn, grow, and have fun with our little community of gardeners this school year! Please let us now if you have any questions — now or in the future. Thank you for supporting GAP! Dania and Julie Follow us on Instagram for more great pictures throughout each week.
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November 2019
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