Creating a STEM Sensory Garden In Mamelodi

Sensory gardens improve physical fitness, health, mood and cognition.


The area for the future sensory garden in June 2021

Background

Students of the Community-based Project Module (code: JCP) of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT (JCP), the occupational therapy students of the Siyathemba clinic and the landscape architects created a sensory garden at the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus in July 2021. The garden is an ideal training centre for practitioners of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and students enrolled in ECD courses at the Faculty of Education. The garden has also become a safe space for staff on campus.

STEM in a sensory garden

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

A sensory garden aims to improve physical fitness, health, mood, and cognition. Gardening and plant care help children develop gross and fine motor skills. Time outdoors, breathing fresh air, and being exposed to sunlight is highly beneficial to the children's overall physical health. Sensory gardens include features, surfaces, objects, and plants that stimulate our senses through touch, sight, scent, taste, and hearing.

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

A sensory garden can be integrated into STEM subjects. The following demonstrates how learners may benefit:

  • Science: Older children can study plants and insects, learn nutrition skills, observe weather effects, and learn more advanced science topics. Young children can feel the textures of different plant leaves, help water plants, and learn various basic ecological concepts.
  • Technology: Weather and soil tools are often used in gardens to stimulate older kids' meteorological conversations. The teachers can use existing garden tools to probe children's knowledge about the agricultural machines and technology required for larger gardens or farming. For younger kids, it is best to remember that technology is anything humans make. Garden tools and other essential items are great conversation starters about the technology used for food production.
  • Engineering: Building and planting a garden is an engineering and design practice, so it's important to involve kids early in the planning process. Have them decide where the park would best be located, but consider the amount of sunlight, proper drainage, and other essential factors that affect how gardens grow.
  • Mathematics: Gardening promotes a variety of math concepts for pre-school and elementary learners. Counting, shape, proportion, fractions, multiplication, etc., are all math topics children can learn while gardening. Young children can count how many tomatoes are on a vine, and older children can apply entrepreneurial principles to determine the price of vegetables to make a profit (Kaplan Early Learning Company).

The STEM sensory garden in Mamelodi

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

One of the niche areas of the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus is educational pathways. The campus identified four educational pathways from early childhood development centres, primary schools, high schools and university education networks. The importance of introducing STEM in the ECD phase is supported by various researchers (Hapgood et al., 2020; Hassan et al., 2019; McClure et al., 2017; Tippett et al., 2017). With the support of the South African-Higher Education Network grant, the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi


September - October 2022: Project with the Early Childhood Development Phase Practitioners

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

Campus, invited 20 practitioners of Early Development Centres in Mamelodi to attend a five-week STEM Sensory Garden Project course. The training includes five sessions of 2 hours and will take place at the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus. It is a pilot project in preparation for implementation in 2023 to more ECD centres.

The training took place on the following dates:

Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Wednesday, September 21 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 (Mamelodi campus)

Introduction to sensory gardens and painting stones for their gardens. Each participant received seeds for their garden.

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Tuesday, September 27 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 (Mamelodi campus)

Adding a sense of taste and smell and listening to the garden. Participants made pottery structures and bird feeders. Each member received a lavender and strawberry plant.

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Tuesday, October 4 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 (Mamelodi campus)

A Zoom session with Dr Kate Kurkul From Merrimack College, USA ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyn-kurkul-ed-d-b294503b/ 

Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Tuesday, October 11 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 (Mamelodi campus)

A presentation by a Master in Education student, Tamika Roopsingh, of the University of Pretoria, focusing on her Master's research related to sensory gardens.

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Tuesday, October 18 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 (Eduplex campus)

A visit to a pre-school, Eduplex pre-school (https://eduplex.co.za/pre-school), in Queenswood (Pretoria) to view an established sensory garden

The visitors from the USA with colleagues at Suikerbekkies Pre-School

Tuesday and Wednesday, October 25 and 26 2022 (sites)

Two USA colleagues, Prof Audrey Falk from Merrimack College, her Masters student, Valeria Garcia and Dr Martina Jordaan, head: Community engagement research and postgraduate studies and Mrs Lorraine Makena from the Research Unit at the Mamelodi campus visited the schools to identify the winner of the sensory garden. The aim was to motivate and suggest possible improvements

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Thursday, October 27 2022 (Mamelodi campus)

A final session with the attendees, where they received feedback. They completed a reflective survey on the process, and their suggestions will be incorporated into the training in 2023.

Participating Schools

Amogelang Bana Pre-School

Bophelong Community Children's Home

Kiddies Paradise Day Care

Daniel Comboni Day Care

Funda Mtwana Day Care

Lethabo Pre-School

Suikerbekkies Pre-School

Vhathu Panda Day Care

Emmanual ECD

Morongwa Day Care

Zakheni Pre-School

Wallmanstal Community Organisation

Bregend oral student college

University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus

Amogelang Bana Pre-School

Teacher: Mondi Anna Makgalemela

Bophelong Community Children's Home

4 th  Prize Winners

Teacher: Dudu Dhludhlu

Kiddies Paradise Day Care

Teacher: Getrude Mohamed

Daniel Comboni Day Care

Teacher: Lucia Puleng Vezi

Funda Mtwana Day Care

Teacher: Nomalanga Cecilia Hlongwane Hlatshwayo

Lethabo Pre-School

3 rd  Prize Winners

Teacher: Kelethabetse Maranela

Suikerbekkies Pre-School

2 nd  Prize Winners

Teachers: Daphne Mekenzie, Andrio Pieterse, Chrochenda Kiviets, Felicity Raelebe

Vhathu Panda Day Care

1st Prize Winners

Teachers: Boitumelo Mashakeng,Busisiwe Shabangu

Emmanual ECD

Teachers: Judith Matola

Morongwa Day Care

Teacher: Minah Senona

Zakheni Pre-School

Teachers: Dudu Mthombeni Zakheni

Wallmanstal Community Organisation

Teacher: Hendrica Sediba

Bregend oral student college

Teacher: Jennifer Phiri

University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus

Sensory garden

Using social media

The sessions were shared on the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/up.mams.31/) as well as the Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/UPMamelodiCampus/ ) of the Mamelodi campus.

Example of the "Idea of the day" - distributed via WhatsApp to the group

Session 1

Session 2:

Session 3: 

Example of the "Idea of the day" - distributed via WhatsApp to the group

 Session 5

 Competition day:

A WhatsApp group was created to communicate with the practitioners. The aim was to remind them about the training and allow them to share ideas. Dr Jordaan shared views of the day with the practitioners.

Media Coverage:

UP website and Billboard

The billboard at the University of Pretoria Hatfield campus

 Podcast with Lotus FM

 Rekord

Teachers learn about sensory gardens

 Pretoria News

Early childhood learning receives boost in townships

Conclusion

  • Only one of the pre-schools had a small garden, while other pre-schools have only cement on their premises. The concept of a sensory garden was new to most participants.
  • Even though only 20 ECD practitioners were invited, more ECD practitioners were interested in attending, and after three sessions, 30 practitioners participated in the training. However, only 13 schools participated in the competition.
  • The challenge was that all must be visited in 2 days to identify a possible winner for the sensory garden.

The winning school

Vhathu Panda Day Care, Mamelodi


April 2023: The STEM Sensory Garden

The STEM sensory garden - April 2023


Projects of other students - 2023

Health Science students project - What is in a box?

Community-based Project Module students from the Faculty Engineering Built Environment and IT added new features to the garden


May - August 2023: Project with the Early Childhood Development phase students

16 May 2023: Visit to the Mamelodi campus

23 May 2023: Visit Eduplex pre-school

8 August 2023: Fist presentation to the ECD practitioners

15 August 2023: Second session with the ECD practitioners

22 August 2023: Third session with the ECD practitioners


6 September 2023: Mandela Day 2023

6 September 2023 - Mandela Day in the reading corner


8 September 20223: Opening of the sensory STEM garden

8 September 2023 - Official Opening of the sensory garden

Reading Corner donated by the Merensky Library and Green Libraries Project of the Goethe Institute


27 September 2023: ECD Storytelling workshop

27 September 2023: ECD Storytelling workshop with Righardt le Roux from Nal'ibali ( https://nalibali.org /) on creating your own stories and incorporating them into a sensory garden. The day was sponsored by the Merensky Library and the Green Libraries Project of the Goethe Institute.

1.  Nel, C. (3 October 2023). Storytelling Workshop presented by the Department of Library Services and Mamelodi Campus. online available at  https://www.up.ac.za/department-of-library-services/news/post_3185677-storytelling-workshop-presented-by-the-department-of-library-services-and-mamelodi-campus 

2.  Nel, C. (15 November 2023). Peep into the engaging stories created during the Annual Storytelling Workshop. Online available at  https://www.up.ac.za/department-of-library-services/news/post_3195366-peep-into-the-engaging-stories-created-during-the-annual-storytelling-workshop 


1 November 2023: Storytelling in the Sensory Garden

1 November 2023: Storytelling in the sensory garden and visit to an exiting sensory garden at Eduplex Pre-school in Queenswood. The day was sponsored by the Green Libraries project of the Goethe Institute.

 Mokgohlwa, L. and Nel, C. (10 November 2023). Using the principles of "Overcoming your Fear of Public Speaking" during a storytelling event. Online available at  https://www.up.ac.za/department-of-library-services/news/post_3194322-using-the-principles-of-overcoming-your-fear-of-public-speaking-during-a-storytelling-event 


Marketing video created by Goethe Institute:  https://youtu.be/iHm3bH2N0kM?si=35zFLi8u5QruHJk2 


16 April 2024: New look for the Sensory Garden

April 2024: The sensory STEM garden on the Mamelodi campus has been transformed into a beautiful and engaging space, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Department of Facilities Management, Mrs Francinah Mphaka, landscape architect Marie Badenhorst, and landscapers from Facility Services Group, Carl Kruger and Marco. Their efforts have created a welcoming and educational environment for students, staff, and visitors alike. We are truly grateful for their contributions and look forward to enjoying the new garden for years to come.

Sensory garden _ University of Pretoria - Mamelodi campus May 2024

2024

JCP 2024 students added new features to the garden.

11 September 2024 - Mandela Day

12 September 2024 - ECD storytelling workshop with the Merensky Library

19 September 2024 - Sensory garden training for ECD practitioners

References

Hapgood, S., Czerniak, C. M., Brenneman, K., Clements, D. H., Duschl, R. A., Fleer, M., ... & VanMeeteren, B. (2020). The importance of early STEM education. In Handbook of research on STEM education (pp. 87-100). Routledge.

Hassan, M. N., Abdullah, A. H., Ismail, N., Suhud, S. N. A., & Hamzah, M. H. (2019). Mathematics Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Education Based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). International electronic journal of mathematics education, 14(1), 15-31.

Hussein, H. (2011). The influence of sensory gardens on the behaviour of children with special educational needs. Asian Journal of Environment – Behaviour Studies, 2(4), 77-93.

Hussein, H. (2009). Therapeutic intervention: Using the sensory garden to enhance the quality of life for children with special needs. Unpublished Doctorial. Edinburgh College of Art.

Kaplan Early Learning Company. Using Gardening to Promote STEM. Available online at https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/gardening-to-promote-stem.

Klemmer, C.D., Waliczek, T.M., and Zajicek, J.M. (2005, July-September). Growing minds: The effect of a school gardening program on the science achievement of elementary students. Hort Technology, 15(3), 448-452.

McClure, E. R., Guernsey, L., Clements, D. H., Bales, S. N., Nichols, J., Kendall-Taylor, N., & Levine, M. H. (2017). STEM starts early. The Education Digest, 83(4), 43-51.

Putnam, H. (2015). How Sustainable School Gardening Enhances STEM Education (Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Northridge).

Rayner, M. (2017). STEM in the outdoors. Interaction, 45(3), 14-16.

Rye, J. A., Slemer, S. J., Pennington, S., Vanhorn, L., Fox, S., & Kane, S. (2012). Elementary School Garden Programs Enhance Science Education for All Learners. Teaching Exceptional Children, 44(6), 58-65.

Swann, J. (2006). Turning gardens into multisensory experiences. Nursing And Residential Care, 8(4), 171-174.

Tippett, C. D., & Milford, T. M. (2017). Findings from a pre-kindergarten classroom: Making the case for STEM in early childhood education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15(1), 67-86.

Vega, V. (2012, October 31). Research-based practices for engaging students in STEM learning. Edutopia. Retrieved from  www.edutopia.org/stw-college-career-stem-research 

*All participants consented to having their photos used

Created by

Ruvé Benadie and Martina Jordaan

The area for the future sensory garden in June 2021

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

The University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus, sensory garden

Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

The visitors from the USA with colleagues at Suikerbekkies Pre-School

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Example of the "Idea of the day" - distributed via WhatsApp to the group

Example of the "Idea of the day" - distributed via WhatsApp to the group

The billboard at the University of Pretoria Hatfield campus

Health Science students project - What is in a box?

Community-based Project Module students from the Faculty Engineering Built Environment and IT added new features to the garden

6 September 2023 - Mandela Day in the reading corner

8 September 2023 - Official Opening of the sensory garden

Reading Corner donated by the Merensky Library and Green Libraries Project of the Goethe Institute

Marketing video created by Goethe Institute:  https://youtu.be/iHm3bH2N0kM?si=35zFLi8u5QruHJk2 

11 September 2024 - Mandela Day

12 September 2024 - ECD storytelling workshop with the Merensky Library

19 September 2024 - Sensory garden training for ECD practitioners