09/06/2026
🌱 To celebrate the first International Day of Botanic Garden Education (12 June), we would like to highlight different activities that our gardens worldwide are doing! Here is an example from Brazil:
Learning from the Earth: a school garden as a pedagogical practice in environmental and food education
Through a partnership between the Poços de Caldas Botanical Garden Foundation and a local early childhood school, children explored nature through hands-on learning, play, and discovery.
The project engaged 20 children aged 1–5, alongside teachers and families, in activities designed to strengthen environmental awareness, healthy eating habits, and meaningful connections with nature. Activities included:
🌿 Teacher training
🌿 Interactive discussions with children
🌿 Planting and sensory experiences
🌿 Educational visits to the botanical garden
🌿 Harvesting and food preparation activities
The school garden became a living classroom where children learned about plant diversity, food origins, and caring for the environment through direct contact with soil, seeds, and plants.
The project resulted in strong engagement, increased environmental awareness, and the development of healthier habits among children. The garden became a living learning space and continues to be integrated into daily school routines, supporting ongoing learning and connection with nature. This experience also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 4, and 15) and has been systematised in a scientific article recently published in the Brazilian Journal of Environmental Education (RevBEA).
This initiative highlights the important role botanic gardens can play in supporting schools and communities in sustainability education! 🌍💚
Obrigado à Fundação Jardim Botânico de Poços de Caldas por compartilhar esta maravilhosa atividade conosco!
