Action Research to Integrate Science with Mathematics through Garden-Based Learning at the Elementary School Level

Abstract

Practical action research--an iterative and inquiry-based sequence of study--can help guide collaboration in university-school partnerships, in this case, towards the integration of garden-based learning with core disciplines in the elementary curriculum. The study focuses on grade 3 mathematics instruction about measurement and data, the integration of science standards such as structure and function, and math-science practices of attending to precision, modeling, conducting investigations, and interpreting data. Students collect, graph, and make meaning of data as well as solve a problem related to buoyancy of garden produce. Student performance revealed that the majority of students achieved mastery at the distinguished level in producing scaled graphs; and that considerable scaffolding is necessary for students to adequately attend to precision. A field-tested learning cycle is provided, which can be adapted by elementary teachers for classroom instruction and by teacher educators to model for preservice teachers mathematics-science integration that incorporates school gardening.