SFCS highlights the importance of Garden Class in its Place-Based Learning Model

At Sierra Foothill Charter School, place-based education is at the heart of their work.

This approach grounds learning in the local environment, encouraging students to explore and question the world around them.

By teaching within their natural surroundings, lessons naturally become student-centered and inquiry-based.

Children learn not just by listening, but by observing, touching, wondering and discovering for themselves.

One of the most powerful expressions of this model is their weekly Garden Class, led by Jeannine Andre, a skilled educator whose experience ranges from preschool teacher to high school instructional aide.

A passionate gardener, certified naturalist and photographer, Andre brings a rich blend of science knowledge, creativity and curiosity to every class.

She shared, “What excited me most about accepting this job was becoming part of a school I had loved watching grow, from the early grassroots parent efforts all the way to the strong, vibrant school it is today.”

Her lessons offer students authentic hands-on learning experiences that weave together biology, ecology, math, writing and art.

Recently, Jeannine introduced students to the fascinating world of bird’s nest fungi, tiny mushrooms that resemble miniature nests.

Students learned how raindrops help these fungi “splash” their spore-filled “eggs” outward, a clever natural engineering strategy that captures young scientists’ imaginations.

During October lessons, students explored pumpkins donated by Raw Roots Farm, investigating the parts of a pumpkin, estimating and counting seeds and journaling their observations.

Fifth graders will plant some of those seeds in the spring, reinforcing understanding of life cycles, sustainability and responsibility.

Sixth graders extended this work by completing seed counts and recording their discoveries.

Lower grade students crafted pine cone bird feeders to help migrating birds, embracing the role students can play in caring for local wildlife.

For first- and second-graders, pumpkin study also brought real-world math and science to life.

Students counted seeds by tens using egg cartons, sneaking in multiplication practice and conducted lively experiments mixing baking soda, watercolor, vinegar and dish soap to explore chemical reactions.

Reflecting on inquiry-driven instruction, Andre noted, “You realize very quickly how powerful student-centered learning is — because the things you least expect to interest them, the rotting things or the microscopic things, are what get them the most excited and engaged.”

Even the youngest learners participate meaningfully. The TK/Kindergarten class recently observed the Three Lined Lema Beetle on a datura plant, prepared soil, watered seeds and tended to their emerging fall garden.

These moments affirm the school’s belief that every child, from their smallest to their oldest, is capable of noticing, questioning and caring for the natural world.

Garden Class is more than a weekly activity; it is an essential part of Sierra Foothill Charter School’s mission to nurture curious, confident, environmentally aware learners who understand their place in the ecosystem and their role in caring for it.

Sierra Foothill Charter School currently has one or two openings in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th grades.

Families interested in joining a school where hands-on learning and outdoor exploration are woven into instruction are encouraged to contact the school office at (209) 742-6222 for enrollment information.