Environmental education (EE) is a concern in modern society. Plant blindness and nature-deficit disorder highlight how important nature contact and plant consciousness is for urban populations. Considering rapid urbanisation, these phenomena are of increasing concern in China. Integrating EE curricula in Chinese cities is necessary to help younger…

It is particularly important that children have a clear understanding and appreciation of the importance of our environment and that they consider themselves as part of it. Children must therefore be provided with evidence-informed learning activities to enable them to understand how they are intrinsically part of the local and global environment,…

Autistic people need sensory gardens specially designed for them to improve psychologically and physically. It also helps them get able to participate in society. The aim of the present study was to plan the close environment of the Inönü University Foundation Special Education and Rehabilitation Center (IFSER) as a sensory garden for children…

School gardens must overcome a range of challenges to be successful but are often lauded for fostering hands-on education and real-world learning. This thematic literature review synthesises 22 journal articles and two book chapters, extending on previous reviews by amassing their themes into one singular reference point for scholars, while…

This article reports how Swedish teachers' aims and practices were modified by an ecosystem services development project that introduced insect hotels, bird boxes and planting to ten preschool yards. Teachers' understanding of ecosystem services, human--nature relationships and the impact of these on nature connectedness showed that their…

The authors describe the benefits of elementary school gardening experiences and offer suggestions on how to nurture positive environmental attitudes among children through garden-based learning activities.

Early childhood education provides an important arena for fostering valuable habits and practices for sustainability. This paper contributes to understanding the educator's role within early childhood environmental education in foraging and gardening practices. What pedagogical approaches does the teacher provide to foster the children's…

Students need to develop cross-cultural awareness and understanding, which has led educational institutions to create high-impact global programs to enhance their learning. Global service-learning, a U.S.-based pedagogy, interconnects service-learning, study abroad, and international education programs. A service-learning program of our study in…

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions middle school students had about agriculture and gardening as part of the GrOW (Gardening and Overall Wellness) Program. This included multiple constructs, including students' gardening efficacy, perceptions of those who had already completed the GrOW Program, perceptions of those who had…

This study investigated the impact of participation in middle school garden programs on student well-being through a mixed-methods evaluation. Set against a backdrop of escalating mental health crises among K-12 students in the United States, characterized by heightened levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, this study evaluated whether school…

Garden-based learning, a key component of Farm to School (FTS), continues to grow in popularity as a tool for engaging students in hands-on learning. Recent literature calls for professional development to help educators overcome barriers - including a lack of horticulture skills, curricular connections, and time - that often hinder program…

This article reflects on the many benefits to children's learning and well-being of re-engaging with the outdoors through the author's experiences with outdoor learning at Burlington Junior School in Bridlington, East Yorkshire. The school has found that connecting with nature has reduced children's stress levels and improved their concentration…

This project uses participatory inquiry methods with Year 2/3 students at Glenelg Primary School in Adelaide, Australia, to address a student-identified desire to learn outside more often. Through a seven-week inquiry, students selected areas around the school to explore, collected and analysed existing plant data, and delivered garden plans. The…

This article reflects on 4 years of research activities in the fields of horticulture and creative praxis. The initial project was a personal one and set out with a simple methodology of collecting, observing, and recording a specific genus of plants, that of Mentha. But as the specific question of whether a garden can, or should, be thought of as…

Promoting positive agency through garden-based and outdoor learning is a powerful and engaging way of learning about the environment and helping assuage some of the undoubted damage done by climate anxiety. In this article, gardener, plant scientist and teacher, Susie Burr offers some advice on developing teaching activities that not only help…