Dirty hands stimulate growing minds! This practical guide introduces teachers—with or without green thumbs—to the rich learning opportunities found in gardening with children.

Gardening can provide a full curriculum incorporating language and literacy, science and math, in addition to social sciences and the arts. It stimulates children's development in the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains. With this book, you can learn to plan fun themed gardens like the Bird and Butterfly Garden, the Dinosaur Garden, the Kitchen Garden, the Pizza Garden, and the North American Garden. You will learn everything you need to know about planning, preparation, plant selection, growing zones, and pest control; the authors also show how gardening can be incorporated into learning centers, circle times, and field trips, and provide ways to document children's learning. Other features include sample garden designs, recipes and activities, ideas for parent and community involvement, and a resource list.