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Gardening Innovators

Gardening Innovators

Step into Gardening and explore the world of seeds, soil, and sustainable living! 

Gardening Innovators challenges students to think like scientists, designers, and marketers. Through hands-on projects and experiments, learners explore sustainability, food systems, and how garden design can support healthy communities and the planet through collaborative, real-world learning.

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  • About Gardening Innovators

    Step into the world of Gardening Innovators and discover how science, creativity, and sustainability come to life in the garden! This dynamic program challenges students to think like scientists, designers, and changemakers while exploring the power of food systems to support healthy communities and a thriving planet.

    Aligned with real-world applications, students will investigate soil, seeds, and systems through hands-on projects such as testing compost, designing irrigation models, and tracking plant growth. They will dive into environmental topics like biodiversity, food waste, and climate while learning how local gardens connect to global sustainability goals.

    From growing herbs and vegetables to preparing simple recipes and sharing harvests with others, students will experience the full journey from soil to table. Join us in Gardening Innovators to cultivate knowledge, creativity, and a lifelong commitment to sustainability.

  • Focus Areas

    Gardening Science & Innovation:
    Investigate how soil, seeds, and systems work together to grow food! Design irrigation models, test compost, and track germination through exciting real-world projects.

    Environmental Sustainability & Systems Thinking:
    Dive into big ideas like biodiversity, food waste, and climate. Explore how gardening connects to local ecosystems and global sustainability goals.

    Culinary Connections & Community Engagement:
    Grow herbs and vegetables, then use what you’ve grown! Partner with culinary programs, create garden-based recipes, and celebrate your harvest with the community.

Learning Outcomes

  • Innovative Garden Systems

    Students will design and test garden systems such as irrigation or compost setups.

  • Gardens and Their Impact

    Students will analyze how gardens impact ecosystems, food systems, and community health.

  • From Harvest to Table

    Students will grow herbs and vegetables, then apply them in seasonal culinary creations.

Sample Lessons

In Gardening Innovators, students explore the science and creativity behind food systems, soil, seeds, and garden design through hands-on projects. They will reflect on their food footprint, test soil health, and design experiments to track germination. Along the way, learners compare global garden styles, plan their own container gardens, and even build DIY irrigation systems. Each lesson blends science, sustainability, and design thinking to help students see how gardens connect to healthy living and a thriving planet.

Food Systems Detective

Students will explore how food travels from farm to table and uncover the impact of everyday choices. They will create a personal food footprint reflection to see how their meals connect to the planet.

Soil Science Lab

By testing soil texture, nutrients, and moisture, students will discover what makes soil healthy and productive. They will build a soil testing report that reveals the hidden life beneath our feet.

Seed Sleuths

Students will investigate the parts of a seed and how each one supports growth. They will design a germination lab to track sprouting seeds up close.

Garden Design Challenge

From vertical gardens to container plots, students will compare creative garden styles from around the world. They will then create their own container garden plan tailored to different spaces.

Water Works

Students will explore how irrigation methods help plants thrive in different environments. They will build a DIY water system to see firsthand how innovation keeps gardens growing.

Course Format

Our Gardening Innovators curriculum is designed to blend hands-on scientific inquiry with the proven 5E instructional model Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.

Each phase challenges students to think like scientists, designers, and problem-solvers while building connections between gardens, sustainability, and community well-being.

We begin with the Engage Phase, sparking curiosity through real-world questions about food systems, ecosystems, and the role gardens play in supporting a healthier planet.

In the Explore Phase, students conduct soil tests, dissect seeds, and model irrigation systems, learning by experimenting and analyzing results.

The Explain Phase provides key knowledge about sustainability, biodiversity, and systems thinking, helping students understand how small changes in a garden connect to global issues.

The Elaborate Phase empowers students to design container gardens, build compost systems, and create garden-to-table recipes that bring learning into their daily lives.

The experience culminates in the Evaluate Phase, where students reflect on their experiments, share design plans, and connect their work to community and environmental goals.

This structured yet flexible approach ensures every student gains practical gardening skills, develops a deeper understanding of sustainability, and cultivates the mindset of an innovator.

Our Instructors Are Our Top Asset

At BAM!, our vision for innovative K-8 education extends beyond just curriculum; it encompasses the educators who bring that curriculum to life. Selecting & training our educators is a continuous and meticulous process, ensuring they are not just equipped with subject matter expertise but also the skills to inspire and connect with students on a personal level.

  • 100% adult educators recruited from prestigious universities ( No CITs at BAM!)
  • Highly refined interview and background check process 
  • Extensive training that goes well beyond curriculum & classroom management
  • Ongoing year-round opportunities to teach in our summer camp. After-school, and structured recess programs.

We celebrate your child's success!

Upon the conclusion of your child's program, they will be presented with an official Brains & Motion Education certificate.

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