Little Scientists STEM Hour: Cultivating Kitchen Gardens in ECEC

Garden projects are one of the most common activities in early learning settings. Whether it’s germinating seeds or planting vegetables, educators are keenly aware of the rich STEM learning opportunities inherent in gardening with children. However, it’s not always easy: insects can run havoc, plants may shrivel and die, and it’s not always clear which plants are suited to your unique environment.

 

In this 60-minute STEM Hour, our expert guest Kate Beckwith, Professional Development Coordinator at the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, will explain the fundamentals of working with young children to establish (and importantly, sustain!) a kitchen garden in an early learning environment. We will explore: 

 

• The benefits of kitchen gardens for young children.
• Three key factors for creating and sustaining a successful garden.
• How to create a garden space with young children in mind.
• Empowering gardening roles and responsibilities for young children.
• Practical ideas and inspiration for early garden experiences.
• A gardening demonstration.
• Suggestions for edible plants to get you started.

 

Purchasing a ticket allows you to tune in live or via a recording. While we strongly encourage you to attend live, a recording will be shared via email following the event and can be viewed for 3 days after the email is sent. This STEM Hour will be held on:

 

Thursday 1 May 2025Time zones: 12-1pm (AEST), 10-11am (AWST), 11:30am-12:30pm (ACST)

 

Learn more or register here.