The year began with an exciting transformation of our outdoor environment, including a refreshed garden space and the addition of a veggie patch. This upgrade has created a hands‑on learning area where children can explore, experiment and connect with nature every day.
As part of our sustainability learning, the children have been engaged in caring for the garden. Here, the children have the opportunity to explore the concept of under‑the‑ground plants such as beetroot and red radish, and over‑the‑ground plants such as lettuce, celery and cucumber. We have also planted a selection of native Australian plants such as lemon myrtle and kangaroo paw, as well as a variety of vegetables in our GROW garden.
Through these experiences, the children continue to develop an understanding of how to take care of plants such as watering them, analysing their changes and observing how sunlight, soil and care help them grow. They are also learning the meaningful concept of garden to table, seeing firsthand how food is grown and how it becomes part of their meals.
Recently, the children proudly harvested fresh fenugreek along with other herbs such as rosemary and coriander. These ingredients have been incorporated into their daily lunches at the centre, giving them the joy of tasting the produce they helped grow.
Moving forward, we will continue to create opportunities for the children to explore their natural environment and learn through these valuable hands-on experiences.