Winsor Elementary Lands Money For Outdoor Learning Garden

From RI Foundation: Students at William Winsor Elementary School will get practical lessons in the art of agriculture thanks to a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation’s Community Grants program.

“Our assistance creates places to gather, build relationships and inspire new collaborations that will strengthen community connections everywhere,” said Neil D. Steinberg, president and CEO of the Foundation.

The William Winsor Parent Teacher Organization received $5,100 to create an outdoor learning garden at the school in partnership with the Smithfield School Department, the URI Master Gardeners Program and area businesses.

“We envision an outdoor learning classroom for children to connect gardening to other educational pursuits, including science, math, reading, literature, history and art,” said Mary Kate Harrington, PTO board secretary.

Fourth- and fifth-graders will have the primary responsibility for caring for the garden. They will work alongside younger students, reading to them about gardens, working with them on starting seeds and spending time together in the outdoor classroom.

“The garden will be incorporated into classroom curriculum with students planning the garden, using the scientific method to predict growth and yield, examining the impact of weather conditions and learning about the town’s agricultural roots,” she said.

The garden will be constructed at the front of the historic school, set up on a raised, flat, sunny area that overlooks the historic village center.

“Set on a very prominent location within the school property, neighbors, community members and others will watch as the garden develops from this initial year, to a robust landscape and curricular initiative,” Harrington explained.

Studies within the garden will support statewide educational efforts in environmental science, mathematics, reading, literature, history and art while supporting efforts of teachers in the classroom.

"The project is very important to the educational growth and life experiences of our students. With the proliferation of technological devices for educational and recreational use, children spend more of their time indoors, looking at tablet screens and less time exploring the natural world and learning from real life experiences in nature," she said.

The Foundation received nearly 130 applications for its Community Grants program. Work on most of the projects that received funding is expected to be underway before the end of the year.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2016, the Foundation awarded a record $45 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.

Image Courtesy of RI Foundation