Academics
Elementary School (Grades K-6)
Rooted in Learning: The Story of Our Elementary Garden
Gardening has been a cherished part of the Kindergarten experience for decades. What began as simple lessons in planting and learning about garden helpers has blossomed into a vibrant, cross-grade program that nurtures both plants and young minds.
Today, the garden program has grown to incorporate periodic visits from high school students. CHAI Environmental Science students work with elementary school students to plant, weed, and harvest crops. The Green Team, which promotes sustainability on campus, gives a presentation to elementary school students to discuss what to plant in the garden and about the importance of planting with variety and creativity, like adding marigolds to attract pollinators or citronella to deter pests. Students also learn that thoughtful planting can help attract and support species along their migration paths.
The elementary gardens are woven into classroom learning and hands-on educational experiences. For instance, fourth graders connect their studies of ecosystems and environmental issues with real-world gardening activities. Kindergarteners visit Underwood Farms to experience a working farm firsthand, deepening their understanding of where food comes from and the cycles of nature.
“Students learn that we can grow food in a variety of ways — in large plots of land like at Underwood Farms, vertically with tower gardens, or in simple garden beds like we have here,” said Elementary Principal Gretchen Kempf. “This kind of versatility makes gardening accessible to everyone.”
Long-lasting garden beds and a compost tumbler, which transforms garden waste into rich soil, support the cycle of sustainability. “The elementary garden is a great way to help students connect with nature by getting their hands in the dirt,” Mrs. Kempf reflected. “It also gives them tangible ways to be part of hopeful solutions to some environmental challenges.”
The fun part comes when students get to eat the fruits, or rather vegetables, of their labor. “When students grow the food themselves, they are excited to try produce like kale, green beans, and spinach,” said Ms. Kempf. “It’s a joyful, full-circle learning experience.”
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The elementary gardens are woven into classroom learning and hands-on educational experiences. For instance, fourth graders connect their studies of ecosystems and environmental issues with real-world gardening activities. Kindergarteners visit Underwood Farms to experience a working farm firsthand, deepening their understanding of where food comes from and the cycles of nature.
“Students learn that we can grow food in a variety of ways — in large plots of land like at Underwood Farms, vertically with tower gardens, or in simple garden beds like we have here,” said Elementary Principal Gretchen Kempf. “This kind of versatility makes gardening accessible to everyone.”
Long-lasting garden beds and a compost tumbler, which transforms garden waste into rich soil, support the cycle of sustainability. “The elementary garden is a great way to help students connect with nature by getting their hands in the dirt,” Mrs. Kempf reflected. “It also gives them tangible ways to be part of hopeful solutions to some environmental challenges.”
The fun part comes when students get to eat the fruits, or rather vegetables, of their labor. “When students grow the food themselves, they are excited to try produce like kale, green beans, and spinach,” said Ms. Kempf. “It’s a joyful, full-circle learning experience.”
Campbell Hall
Campbell Hall is a K-12 independent, Episcopal, gender-inclusive day school. We are a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving, and responsible human beings.
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Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.