Teaching plant science in school and community settings

Abstract

Teaching plant science in school and community settings can be a valuable resource to often underserved neighborhoods while also providing a natural opportunity for cross collaboration and relationship building between communities, schools, and universities. Opportunities for learning in these educational settings can take place inside the classroom or in outdoor environments such as a school or community garden. Though the multiple benefits of these plant-based learning experiences are far reaching and well documented, maintaining and structuring the use of these educational settings can be challenging. This chapter will look at some of the indoor and outdoor environments that can be utilized to teach plant-based sciences and how to effectively plan these spaces and the programs that utilize them as well as some educational methodologies that can make these experiences successful, engaging, and academically enriching. Some common challenges of starting and maintaining a plant-based educational setting in schools and community centers will also be presented and solutions will be discussed. Additionally, the utilization of social media as a method of connecting communities to plants will be addressed. Lastly, this chapter will offer some ideas for setting up collaborations between colleges and community centers, including schools, to provide service learning and student teaching opportunities in the plant sciences to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.