Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School

Project D.I.G. is the centerpiece of the effort at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School (CSS) to reduce the rate of childhood obesity and make students more aware of the value of good nutrition. By tending raised-bed gardens and a row garden, students learn that food doesn't grow in the grocery store and become acquainted with nutritious produce they do not often see on their plate. The experience of planting and growing, as well as tasting the fruits of their labor, make "health" and "nutrition" more than words for them. This is hands-on learning and learning best accomplished in an outdoor classroom near the gardens. Construction of a pergola as a Project D.I.G. outdoor classroom will not only put students in proximity to their work but will put them in a natural setting that research shows they prefer, that bolsters their emotion health, feeds their interest in discovery, makes them more observant and helps instill an appreciation of life, an important aspect of good health.