Early School Garden Undergoes Exciting Transformation

A beloved corner of St. Margaret’s campus is experiencing new life this spring. The Early School Garden, nestled beside the Darcy Rice Center for the Arts parking lot, has undergone a thoughtful redesign—one that brings both innovation and inspiration to the school’s youngest learners. The transformation reflects the Early School’s commitment to hands-on, nature-based education, rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy and a constructivist approach to learning.

The refreshed space includes a newly installed iron trellis that marks the entrance to the school's garden, also featuring a newly constructed “chicken condo,” a large, carefully designed coop where Early School students may observe and care for live chickens. Alongside it, a new water feature, improved accessible pathways, and raised flower beds create an engaging environment for Early School students to explore. A new greenhouse was built in the Garden last school year as part of a PTF grant. 

Early School students are provided an opportunity to engage in a range of activities in the Garden: measuring soil, tracking the growth of seedlings, designing signage, and studying insect habitats. These immersive experiences are integrated into the broader curriculum, reinforcing skills across disciplines.

From identifying patterns in seeds to observing how plants respond to watering, St. Margaret’s youngest Tartans are developing foundational scientific thinking in the Garden. The Early School educators emphasize that time spent learning and playing outdoors supports holistic child development—cognitive, social-emotional, and physical. In this setting, the Early School garden serves as a dynamic co-teacher, fostering curiosity, persistence and critical thinking.

 “The collaborative nature of gardening builds a culture of care and belonging, as children take turns watering, harvesting, and feeding the hens,” said Erika Garcia, Early School outdoor and motor development teacher. “These shared responsibilities foster a sense of interdependence and strengthen classroom relationships.”

In addition, the harvests from the garden often end up in the Early School’s demonstration lab, where children prepare recipes using their own produce. 

“Planting with purpose allows children to witness the full life cycle of plants from tiny seeds to thriving plants, and with that comes powerful lessons,” Ms. Garcia said. “When children carefully place seeds in the soil, tend to them each day, and observe them grow, they are learning about responsibility, patience, and care. And when it comes time to harvest, we often hear proud declarations like, ‘I grew this!’”