We had originally believed that a half day session would be sufficient, but as we worked closely with Chad during our practice session we began to realize that questions would not be limited to planting. Below is our expanded agenda that would now encompass a full day.
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There is a printable version of the agenda on the right and a printable version of the event poster on the left.
Please feel free to print and share or pass on the links.
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The Agenda
Poster
Growing Change
8:30 – 9:00 Coffee and Snacks - Shelmerdine Café
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9:00 – 9:30 Introductions and Opening Discussion - Conference Room
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We will be kicking off the PD by watching the following video: Changing the Nature of Education - School Gardens
Following the video, participants will be asked to turn at talk at their table groups about the following question: What are you hoping to come away with from your time here today?
Following this video, the Garden Team from Shelmerdine's will introduce themselves.
9:30 – 10:00 Tour of garden centre - Chad
This tour is an excellent introduction to not only a greenhouse but also gardening in general. It will offer the opportunity for participants to begin to formulate questions and may even lead to some inspiration regarding their own learning gardens.
10:00 – 10:30 Brainstorming
During this brainstorming session, participants will at first be asked to reflect personally on the following questions:
How can we use what we’ve seen so far?
What questions to you have?
How do you link gardening to curriculum?
They will then be asked to share some of their responses at their table groups.
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 –11:00 Sharing our Brainstorm
At this time, we will be encouraging participants to share with the whole group. This may help identify like-minded individuals for the planning session at the end of the day.
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11:00-11:45 Hands-on Planting Practice - Planting tips lead by Garden Team
At this time, we will switch from a more discussion based PD to a hands-on session. Participants will be guided by the Garden Team on the following: How to read a seed packet and the pruning and maintaining of plants.
11:45-12:30 Lunch - Shelmerdine Café
12:30-1:00 Community Involvement
To help everyone come back from lunch, we will propose the following question to table groups:
How do you get your community involved and keep the garden going?
We’ll ask them for their ideas and then share some of our own.
1:00-1:30 Questions and Answers - Troubleshooting - Chad and the Garden Team
After a half day of thinking about gardening and hearing stories from other educators, we’ll now offer up the opportunity for participants to ask questions to the gardening experts. This may help with the next part of the PD, the planning break-out sessions.
1:30-3:00 Break-out Sessions - Creation of alike groups
Making an action plan for your garden
During this time, participants will be encouraged to create like-minded groups. Our suggestions will be groupings based on grade level, but also on elements such as: those that have funding, those that do not, people interested in planning the actual creation of a garden, people interested in developing lessons or how to use the garden.
Participants will also receive our planning sheet at this time. This will help them address key questions and plan their next steps.
We will take time throughout this break-out session to share interesting thoughts or ideas and will be around to answer questions. We will also ask the garden team to come back for a brief visit, just in case the conversations inspire some questions that are best directed to them.
3:00-3:30 Closing Remarks
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During the closing remarks, we will address the following questions:
Did you get what you need?
What will you do next?
How can we help?
We will share our contact information, the website we have created and will attempt to address any other questions that may come up at this time.
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