Gardening Program / Outdoor Learning
Program Summary:
In 2012, a committed group of teachers and parents began to draft plans for a school garden and outdoor classroom on the FSK campus. Due to their hard work, the gardening program was successfully launched – the school became a greener space with endless outdoor learning opportunities. Today, the gardening program at Francis Scott Key is a collaboration between Climate Corps, a program of SEI, and the students and families of FSK. Our full-time garden instructor conducts weekly lessons in our beautiful outdoor classroom, serving all K-5 classes. Students participate in engaging, hands-on, experiential science investigations aligned with their class curriculum. They become scientific thinkers and environmental stewards, learning to care for and protect the natural world around them.
Lessons in the Outdoor Classroom:
- Worms and decomposition
- Plant adaptations
- Renewable energy systems
- Garden-to-table cooking
- Ecosystems
- Bees, birds, and other garden creatures
- Plant life cycle
- Ethnobotany
- Animal habitats
- Garden planting and maintenance
- Wood and trees
Community Days:
Volunteers:
- Weekend watering and weeding
- Class-time support
- Materials prep for classes
- Volunteer outreach
- Assisting in garden workdays
Any help is greatly appreciated!!
To get involved, or for questions/comments/concern
Garden Workday ~ March 5th
Please lend a hand in our school garden this weekend. We are doing maintenance as Spring is just around the corner and are prepping the space for our fabulous FSK Gala. Come to our Garden Workday Saturday, March 5th 11:00 am – 1:00 pm FSK Yard/Garden Planting, weeding, turning over garden beds and a fun […]
Garden Work Party ~ November 13
Please join us for our Fall Garden Workday on11/13 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. We would appreciate your help in Cleaning up near the garden beds and forest garden Painting on signs for plant identification] Weeding and turning garden beds over with new compost Please bring your own gloves and wear masks to keep […]
Support our School Garden
Please support the FSK Outdoor Garden & Science Classroom! Our Garden Committee Chairs, Ashley and Carly, and Outdoor Science teacher, Mr. Aaron, have been working tirelessly to keep our garden thriving and welcoming for all our families. A great way to support their efforts is to participate in the Sloat Garden Center Fundraiser starting today, […]
Garden Work Party ~ February 29th
Join us at the FSK Garden Work Party on Saturday, February 29th, 11:00am – 1:00 pm. We will be weeding, cleaning up the garden, harvesting, and much more! We are actively working on figuring out the irrigation system and ideas on garden expansion. Please bring all ideas/input and energy to garden work day. Also, please […]
Outdoor Science Class ~ Sloat Fundraiser through February 16th
Please Support FSK’s Outdoor Garden and Science Classroom by shopping at Sloat Garden Center and mentioning ‘FSK’ at the checkout today through February 16th! FSK will receive 10% of purchases back in the form of a gift card to help fund projects for our wonderful garden. We’re also in need of supplies for our Outdoor […]
Outdoor Science Class – Sloat Fundraiser, January 10-19
Please Support FSK’s Outdoor Garden and Science Classroom by shopping at Sloat Garden Center and mention FSK at the checkout from January 10th through 19th. FSK will receive 10% of purchases back in the form of a gift card to help fund projects for our wonderful garden. The school with the highest participation will receive […]
Outdoor Science Class – Sloat Fundraiser through November 3
Please Support our GARDEN & OUTDOOR SCIENCE Classroom by shopping at Sloat Garden Center and mentioning Francis Scott Key at checkout through this Sunday, November 3rd. FSK will receive 10% of purchases back in the form of a gift card to help fund projects for our wonderful school garden. If you would like to pick […]
Garden Party ~ October 19th
Please join us for a fun Garden Party this Saturday, October 19th, 10am-11:30am. We will be gardening and beautifying our school yard. Refreshments will be served to volunteers – please email us if you can make it so we have an accurate head count. Questions? RSVP’ing? Please email garden@francisscottkeyschool.org
Support our FSK Garden through September 15
Last Weekend to Support FSK’s Outdoor Garden & Science Classroom! Shop at Sloat Garden Center through this Sunday, September 15th, mention FSK at checkout, and our school will receive 10% of purchases! The school with the highest participation will receive 20% of purchases back (please note: purchase of gift cards do not apply for this fundraiser). Sloat […]
Growing up Green – Sloat Garden Center Fundraiser – March 22nd-31st
The next Growing up Green fundraiser at Sloat Garden center starts this week! Help support the FSK garden and outdoor classroom! Shop at any Sloat Garden Center location during your school’s Growing up Green week, mention FSK, and we will receive 10% of purchases back in the form of a Sloat gift card, which can […]
Garden Workday Changed to February 17th
Join us for an upcoming garden workday this Sunday, 10a-1pm, at FSK! We will be installing new planters around our yard, a special project funded by the Shared Schoolyards program. Hope to see you there!
Future of the Garden Meeting – 10/21/18 @ 11AM-12PM (Sunday)
Hello Families of FSK, We hope your school year is off to a great start. The garden is being planted and the kids are excited to be hands on experiencing and learning in the wonderful outside space. With the amazing leadership of teacher Jamie with Education Outside, the students of FSK are learning how to […]