|
 Science Gets Interesting with Junior
Master Gardener Program
Auburn,
March 26, 2004 ---
Science will be a little more interesting in many Alabama schools this
spring with help from Alabama 4-H, the Alabama Cooperative Extension
System and a generous donation from the Alabama Farmers Cooperative,
Inc.
Fifteen Junior Master Gardener training programs will
be offered this spring across the state.
The JMG program is a 4-H youth gardening program
created by the Texas Cooperative Extension Service. Modeled after the
adult Master Gardener Program, JMG integrates a variety of
science-related skills into a fun, hands-on elementary curriculum.
“The 15 spring workshops are being determined based on
grant applications submitted by teachers and volunteers,” said Shane
Harris, an Extension agent in
Tallapoosa
County, who is serving as the coordinator for the program. Teacher
training was held in the fall and more than 170 school teachers and
youth leaders participated.
Workshops
are currently set for the following counties:
Conecuh/Butler (March 30)
Houston (April 16)
Franklin (April 21)
Jefferson
(April 24)
Randolph/Clay (April 29)
Monroe/Clarke/Wilcox (May 6)
Alabama Farmers Cooperative Inc. and its division
Bonnie Plant Farms donated more than $38,000 to fund the fall teacher
training and the spring workshops.
“Alabama Farmers
Cooperative and Bonnie Plant Farm look forward to joining with the
Extension System and Alabama 4-H in implementing the Junior Master
Gardener program in Alabama,” said Tommy Paulk, president and CEO of
Alabama Farmers Cooperative Inc.
“Through the literature
and supplies that will be provided through this grant, the youth of
Alabama will be afforded hands-on experiences that will develop an
appreciation for gardening, community involvement and responsibility
toward the environment,” Paulk added.
The Junior Master Gardener program contains
independent
study activities and group activities.
“We are targeting classroom teachers for the spring
workshops because the curriculum fits in well with their classroom
curriculum,” Harris said.
The program’s curriculum matches the third-grade
curriculum almost perfectly, Harris said, but can be geared to fourth
and fifth grades, as well. Teachers, parents, community leaders, 4-H
volunteers and Master Gardeners can all work together to implement the
program.
The curriculum is
made up of eight chapters including plant growth and development,
soils and water, ecology and environmental horticulture, insects and
diseases, landscape horticulture, fruits and nuts, vegetables and
herbs and life skills/career exploration.
The program offers
horticultural and environmental science education and leadership and
life skill development through fun, creative activities. It utilizes
schools, volunteers, Cooperative Extension networks and other youth
organizations to educate young gardeners. In addition, the Junior
Master Gardener program incorporates service learning and
volunteerism, enabling young people to make positive contributions to
their homes, communities and country.
Harris said the JMG program has had phenomenal results
nationwide. Evaluations of the program have found that it really
enhances learning in the classroom. Children do better in school,
they enjoy learning more and their parents are more involved.
SOURCE: Shane Harris, Extension Agent, Tallapoosa
County and Coordinator of Junior Master Gardener Program, Alabama
Cooperative Extension System (256) 825-1050.
Article
in MS Word
Article
in Text
|
