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Community Nutrition and Urban Gardening

Langley Park McCormick Elementary School Garden

The Engaged University began nutrition and gardening education at Langley Park McCormick Elementary (LPMCES) in spring  2006.  LPMCES student body is 82% Latino, 14.2% African American, 1% White,  and 0.5% Asian, 40% of the students are non-English speakers or have limited English proficiency.  Only 10% of the students' parents speak English.  In this setting, hands-on gardening education is an especially effective teaching tool. We teach 3rd and 4th grade students in their classrooms and in our garden, working with the same group of students throughout the entire growing season.  Our planned lessons employ a cross-disciplinary approach to introducing young people to the principles of gardening.

We began the 2006 growing season using containers to grow vegetables and spices in the classrooms.  While this was successful, we determined that an in-ground school garden would be a more suitable and sustainable learning environment for the students of Langley Park McCormick Elementary.  Throughout the winter and spring of 2007, we prepared the land on the northeast side of the school for gardening, and planted seeds with students in the garden for the first time in April of 2007.  We now use the new garden-- a mini-urban farm--with the students as an outdoor classroom where they can learn about growing and eating healthy foods, while augmenting their science, math, and language arts learning. 

In addition to gardening, we teach students about nutritious food and how to prepare healthy snacks and meals.  Using the Food Stamp Nutrion Education's Focus on Understanding Nutrition (F.U.N.) curriculum, we incorporate the basic fundementals of cooking into the required Maryland State curriculum. Our hands-on education approach teaches students about the fundaments of nutrition while reinforcing math, reading, and writing skills-learning in the classroom.

To volunteer at the Langley Park McCormick Elemenatry school garden, please email Vinnie Bevivino at bevivino@umd.edu .