Hilltop Elementary

Our garden’s primary goal is to incorporate the outdoors into multiple facets of classroom learning. We are currently in the process of segmenting the garden into smaller areas that will enhance individual lessons. For example, we are creating a Texas Pioneers garden with vegetables and plants that early settlers to this area would have grown. This dovetails with social studies lessons. The garden’s secondary goal is to familiarize the children with different vegetables and open them up to trying healthy new foods. We have a PTA group, Hilltop Healthy, dedicated to teaching children and parents about healthy ways to eat and live. We will do joint events with them, like cooking lessons and taste tests. Experience shows that children who have been involved with planting and growing foods from the start they are more invested in the final outcome. The final, and most important, goal for the garden is to re-introduce these students to nature. Pausing to watch a hummingbird in action, or tasting a mint leaf, gives these kids a sense of calm and inner peace. Having a place to be quiet is vitally important for both emotional and physical health.