Children need to experience nature, and gardening is a good way to encourage them to engage with the earth, plants and animals. Gardening classes, as taught in Steiner-Waldorf schools from Class 6 to Class 10, help children develop many important skills, including sensory perception and motor skills, as well as an understanding of ecology and agriculture. How can such a complex subject be taught well and effectively? In a clear structure -- which includes the history of school gardens, aspects of child development, and practical help on teaching methods, lesson planning for different age groups, and maintaining the garden itself -- Birte Kaufmann offers many useful tips and suggestions for new or developing gardening teachers.

Author Biography

Birte Kaufmann was born in Muenster, Germany in 1976. She studied agriculture then trained to be a Waldorf class teacher and gardening teacher in Hamburg. She has taught gardening in schools for over a decade, and also lectures widely.