Example
Our Garden Project(s)

We have chosen to articulate our ideas for projects that will take place around our school garden more fully in order to give readers an idea of the ways in which our ideas might be more fully fleshed out. It is important to remember in the examination of these proposals that we believe strongly in giving students and teachers the space to develop the specific projects which they would like to carry out based on their interests and learning objectives. These proposals, therefore, represent only a few possibilities to be used as inspiration by members of the school community in their own personally relevant endeavors rather than prescribed activities that all classes must follow.

It is likely that a curriculum centered around the garden would lead some students to an exploration of the factors that affect how plants grow including weather patterns, soil quality, water quality, etc. An investigation of how any one of these factors is influenced by social factors beyond the school setting might bring up any number of issues such as global warming, water pollution, waste disposal or chemical agricultural practices. We would encourage students to ask themselves how they could address the problems that they saw in the course of their research.

Ideas might include

• Interviewing local businesses about the ways in which they save energy and use ecologically sound practices in their websites (and then possibly making a website which people can consult to find out about how green the businesses in their community are)
• Organizing 'drives' to promote non-car transportation, recycling, proper disposal of toxic household substances or other green practices in their families, the school or local communities

Learning about different planting/farming practices might encourage students to become concerned about the factors that affect farmers' ability to produce enough food to support themselves healthfully in other parts of the world. This might inspire advocacy projects including:

• Writing letters to political leaders encouraging them to take action in international equity issues
• Raising funds and awareness for groups that they research
  Creating educational campaigns about issues that they care about