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The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Story House Early Learning
At Story House Early Learning, we believe in providing children with holistic educational experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program to our curriculum, offering our young learners a unique opportunity to connect with nature, food, and sustainability. Our STRONG Beginnings curriculum incorporates our healthy choices program; this cultivates STRONG bodies and minds. Our teaching teams involve children in the whole process from understanding the life cycle of plants, growing and harvesting food to preparing and serving food, constantly talking and learning about keeping our bodies healthy by fostering curiosity and a sense of wonder, allowing children to explore ecosystems, observe seasonal changes, and understand environmental concepts.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, founded by renowned Australian chef Stephanie Alexander, is an innovative educational initiative that teaches children how to grow, harvest, prepare, and share fresh, seasonal food. This hands-on approach to learning not only promotes healthy eating habits but also instils a sense of environmental responsibility and community engagement.
How the Program Works at Story House
Our dedicated teaching teams have integrated the Kitchen Garden Program into our daily activities, creating an exciting and interactive learning environment for children of all ages. Here’s how we’ve implemented this fantastic program:
Garden Exploration: Children participate in planting, tending, and harvesting vegetables, herbs, and fruits in our specially designed garden spaces. This hands-on experience helps them understand the lifecycle of plants and the importance of sustainable gardening practices.
Cooking Adventures: Under careful supervision, children learn to prepare simple, nutritious meals using the produce they’ve grown. This not only teaches them valuable cooking skills but also encourages them to try new foods and appreciate where their food comes from.
Sensory Learning: The program engages all five senses, allowing children to touch, smell, taste, see, and hear the wonders of nature and food preparation. This multi-sensory approach enhances cognitive development and encourages curiosity.
Environmental Awareness: Through composting, water conservation, and learning about seasonal produce, children develop an understanding of environmental sustainability and the importance of caring for our planet.
Social Skills and wellbeing: Working together in the garden and with our cook fosters teamwork, communication, and sharing – essential social skills that will benefits children’s wellbeing throughout their lives.
Benefits for Children
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program offers numerous benefits for our young learners:
• Improved nutrition knowledge and healthy eating habits
• Enhanced fine and gross motor skills
• Increased confidence, self-esteem, wellbeing which supports self-regulation.
• Development of literacy and numeracy skills through hands on experiences.
• Greater understanding of where food comes from and how it’s produced
• Stronger connection to nature, sustainability and how eco systems work.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Story House Early Learning is more than just an educational initiative – it’s a way of life that promotes healthy eating, environmental consciousness, and a love for learning. By introducing children to the joys of gardening and cooking at an early age, we’re sowing the seeds for a lifetime of healthy habits and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
Join us in celebrating this exciting addition to our curriculum and watch as your child
Join us in celebrating the joys of gardening, cooking, and learning together at Story House Early Learning. Watch as your child’s curiosity blossoms and their understanding of the world around them grows, one seed at a time.
