How to Create a Classroom Window Garden with Kids

Getting kids involved in gardening is a great way to teach them responsibility while cultivating a healthy food source. Kids will love getting in on the action, and they’ll learn about science and the environment in the process. Best of all, kids of any age stand to benefit from creating a classroom window garden.

If you’re a teacher, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to discover the best way to plant and nurture a window garden with your students!

Start with a Brainstorming Session

Kids are always eager to contribute ideas, and a brainstorming session can help them think about what it takes to create a garden. By the end of a brainstorming session, they’ll grasp that soil and water are essential components of a successful garden. But they’ll also begin to see how committing to regular care and choosing an optimal location for the garden are important. Most gardens thrive with ample sunlight, so students can help determine the best location for one in your classroom.

Flower boxes or planters from flowerwindowboxes.com are ideal compartments for gardens in small spaces. You’ll be able to choose from among several styles and colors to find one that suits your classroom. Find one that can fit your windowsill and install your planter carefully to ensure it’s secure. Once it’s ready to go, introduce a bit of science to your classroom discussion by explaining how plants will convert sunlight into energy to start growing.

Choose the Right Plants

You’ll experience greater gardening success if you start with plants that are simple to plant and grow. Lettuce and beans, for instance, can start to sprout greens from the soil within days of planting, offering students some instant gratification for their efforts. Herbs like basil and mint are easy to grow, too, and can add some seasoning to in-class snacks. You can reach for other options like known pollinators and talk about the benefits of bees to our ecosystem. Or you can choose plants that are closely associated with specific eras or flowers native to your region as a way to weave some history into your project.

Once you’ve selected your plants, get students involved in tracking growth through charts and journals. Develop a watering schedule to keep plants nourished, and let students take turns handling responsibilities. Delegate tasks with the help of a chart, and reflect on everyone’s observations about the garden each day.

Use the Garden to Inspire Creativity

Yes, maintaining a garden is largely about following a care routine and being attentive to each plant’s needs. But gardens offer countless other benefits, including opportunities for creative growth and craft projects. You can use the window garden project as an opportunity to inspire artistic endeavors, like drawings or poetry.

Students can hone their observational skills by attempting to draw the details of plant life. They can take photographs and post pictures to a classroom blog. Students can write stories focused on plants, or use harvested garden greens to try their hand at collaborative cooking. Most importantly, students can see learning as enjoyable and participatory.

Add a Garden to Your Classroom

It doesn’t take much to introduce a window garden to even the most modest classroom. Get students involved in selecting the plants to grow and let them tackle the tasks associated with garden care. Find a planter that fits your window, and begin the growing process. Over time, students will be able to see the beauty in nurturing plant life and contributing meaningfully to a class project.