My name is Marjie McGraw and I am CRA’s new garden teacher. I hold a California teaching credential and a graduate degree in education, with an emphasis on curriculum development and instruction. As part of my graduate research project, I created a school garden and accompanying curriculum to examine the effectiveness of using outdoor education to increase social-emotional growth. I’m grateful to be a part of a school that has unwavering value for environmental stewardship.
Hello! I am Angelica Rodas and I am CRA’s returning garden instructor. I studied social ecology at the University of California Irvine with a minor in anthropology. Renewable energy instruction (via hot composting and vermicomposting) is a passion of mine.
Outdoor education is our passion because it creates a unique opportunity for students to develop connections and care for the natural world. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with kindergarten through eighth-grade students in the Discover Garden!
Leaves are falling, the garden is lush, and learners are beginning to gather the crops they sowed in early autumn! We commenced the year by welcoming students to explore their innate curiosity and build relationships with teachers, each other, and the environment. It is a gift to witness the pure joy students exuberate when spending time in nature! Students have been learning about soil amendment practices, how plants adapt to cooler weather, the relationship between organisms in our hot compost bins, and which types of plants grow best in autumn.
Our community is grateful for another year in CRA’s Discovery Garden where we have a unique opportunity to nurture children’s love for nature, explore healthy foods, and build scientific competencies through garden-based learning.
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