At Sloat, we believe that what our students learn in the extra enrichment classes provided foster their creativity and boosts their academic performance.

The Parents' Club funds the LEARNING GARDEN, a place where students engage in hands-on learning about the natural world around them. Each class works in the garden at least two times per month, doing a variety of projects and activities. This year, we will offer classes every other week for all students, grades K-5.

The primary focus is learning how to grow food while enjoying the process from seed to plate. Students are full participants in all stages of production, and each class gets to reap the harvest of their labors, cook a meal, and enjoy it together.

The garden provides a learning environment where real world examples clearly illustrate the concepts being taught inside the classroom. Subjects range from the scientific (photosynthesis and life cycles) to the literary (garden stories and journals).

We also incorporate art (the mosaic wall) and nutrition (healthy food choices). Every student gets to enjoy the garden both during class time and as a beautiful and engaging physical feature of the school grounds. The children's enthusiasm for working in and around the garden is limitless.