In our Mindful Gardening Club, G1 students explore our school’s green spaces with calm, curious minds. We sometimes begin with simple breathing exercises, but most of our mindfulness comes from slowing down and noticing the small wonders around us, such as the shapes of leaves, the scents we smell outdoors, and how plants change over time. Our young gardeners have also become impressively skilled at weeding. Earlier in the year, they created wooden garden signs with uplifting messages like “breathe deep” and “you matter” to offer encouragement to anyone walking by.
During the fall, the students made small clay-pot scarecrows to decorate our outdoor areas. They carefully chose spots for each one, hiding them between blades of grass to surprise people, or placing them where they would be easy to see. To complete the autumn scene, we replanted bright chrysanthemums together. The children reacted with curiosity, excitement, and a bit of hesitation when they discovered worms and other tiny creatures in the soil.
Now that winter is approaching, the children are busy creating snowman decorations to bring a cheerful and festive touch to our green spaces. Each week, their awareness, care, and creativity continue to grow, just like the spaces they help nurture.
