The UCF Creative School for Children, typically known for its unique learning environment, can also be recognized for its support of the natural environment. In recognition of nature’s splendor, the school recently expanded its outdoor-based curriculum. Its emergent “outdoor classroom” follows their usual no-worksheet learning style and instead encourages sensory, play-based developmental programs.

Prior to its recent expansion, the Creative School had a smaller garden originally allocated under Tina Richards via the UCF Arboretum. What used to be an underutilized sandbox has now been transformed into a vast organic produce garden with the help of student volunteers and in partnership with the Arboretum and Wellness & Health Promotion Services. Once completed in April 2015, the Creative School had a “Come Grow with Us” inaugural event where the parents and children were able to plant the first seedlings into the garden together. It is now home to thriving seasonal produce and herbs, with the heartier fall crops currently in full swing – pumpkins, okra, eggplant, spinach, basil, and moringa.

Each classroom bracket attends nature lessons two times a week, each lasting about an hour. The staff creates the lesson plans based on the age level group, from infant to five years old. A recent favorite activity amongst the older classes was picking sunflowers, where each child brought one back to the classroom to dissect its parts. The children then planted a seed from their sunflower to follow its growing cycle in coming weeks. Other activities include window sprouting using a moist towel and Ziploc-bags to watch seed germination, and nature bottles using different sized seeds to craft maraca-sounding instruments. The younger classes have more sensory based lessons, such as feeling the soil texture and pointing out plant parts.