Open Garden Brno
The Open Garden educational centre of Brno is an ideal place for environmental and food related education. Teachers and students will enjoy an educational demonstration of the four environmental elements, and experience the agricultural cycle from farm to fork in a small city farm. The Open Garden educational centre offers thematic courses and programmes for pupils to understand science-oriented natural processes taking place in nature as well as food, growing and environmental related topics.
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'Seek out urban growing projects if you are based in a city as inspiration for growing vergetables in your school grounds'
How is the project linked to climate change & sustainability?
Water, air, sun and soil. These are the four elements of the Open Garden. What children learn at school in theory can be experienced and tried in the Open Garden educational centre. Also, pupils will get involved in growing herbs, baking in the oven, feeding rabbits and beekeeping in the adjoining city-farm.
The educational programme at Open Garden Brno aims for children to try out various activities in the garden, from planting seeds, watering, hoeing, harvesting, caring for animals to drying herbs and cooking. Thanks to their stay in the garden, children relate to where their food comes from, forming new habits for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Food is not only about eating, but especially about relationships with other people and the whole environment. Thanks to interactively based activities and games, children strengthen their ability to empathise with others, learn to work together, and behave responsibly to the environment. Outside education also leads children to healthy physical activity.
Who is involved?
The Open Garden programme involves children in practical hands-on growing activities in the garden and helps them acquire knowledge and skills about food growing, harvesting and cooking while keeping in mind the sustainability aspects of all the processes. Teachers are offered a downloadable methodology that explains the journey to sustainable development from food cultivation to the processing of local ingredients.
How are the participants involved?
A guided tour of the garden will show interactive sculptures dedicated to the four elements (water, air, sun and soil) and pupils will try out various demonstration activities. The gardening and growing activities in the city mini-farm will differ according to the season and children will see the animals and a herb garden. Students will also learn about the age-old history of the place where the monastery garden used to be.
Key steps:
A visit to the Open Garden Brno will enable you to learn about the four elements in the interactive demonstration area, and then take part in the growing activities in the small city farm.
These activities can also be done in many other city farms and growing areas elsewhere. Key steps to consider include:
1. Searching online for a suitable venue to visit
2. Arranging transport to the site and deciding how to pay for this
3. Planning what you wish to learn on the visit and liasing with venue staff
4. Keep pupils safe with appropriate risk assessments and health and safety advice, especially hand washing.
5. Enjoy the day: make it as fun and interactive as possible as a 'wow' day
6. Follow up with learning activities in the classroom and school grounds to continue the learning experience