Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Students at Findon experience the joy of hands on learning, growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and herbs creating vast menus. In the kitchen, children take part in all aspects of cooking, learning correct techniques and being part of all cleaning and operational tasks, learning how to hang washing, washing dishes and sweeping.
At a beautifully set table students are inspired to try new foods through exposure, exploration and enjoyment. We do not describe food to children as ‘healthy or unhealthy’ and focus on enjoyable aspects by encouraging talk and thinking that uses all of the senses.
Students revel in the kitchen and the garden. By providing rich and engaging experiences students explore with a focus on pleasurable food experience and autonomy. Students learning becomes meaningful with real world connections and stimulates curiosity and inquiry. Foundation to grade two have fortnightly garden classes and one kitchen session per term. Grade three and four students have weekly kitchen sessions in semester 1 and fortnightly kitchen sessions in semester 2 with fortnightly garden classes through the year. Grade five and six students have fortnightly kitchen sessions in semester 2 and one garden class per term.
Kitchen and Garden classes are delivered in a homestyle kitchen classroom, productive, organic fruit and vegetable garden and outdoor classroom settings. Our Kitchen and Garden specialist is a Chef, Permaculture Designer and Permaculture Educator. The program is designed to be fully integrated into the curriculum as it offers infinite opportunities for literacy, numeracy, science, intercultural understanding and environmental sustainability.