A study was conducted to examine the effects of a one-year school garden program on the development of life-skills in elementary school children. Life-skills were assessed in six different areas: teamwork, self-understanding, decision making, volunteerism, communication, and leadership. The instrument used for collecting data was the Youth Life Skills Inventory (YLSI), which was an adaptation of the Leadership Skills Inventory (LSI) for adults. The YLSI included 32 adapted questions from the LSI. Children reported their responses using a three-point Likert-type Scale. This inventory was used to collect both pretest and posttest scores.
Two groups of students participated in this study: An experimental group that participated in the garden program and the control group with no garden program. Children participating in the study were third, fourth, and fifth grade students in twelve different schools inTexas. A total of 281 students participated – 190 in the experimental group and 91 in the control group. Schools participating in the study received copies of a school garden curriculum which included a handbook for each student participant and a teacher/leader guide for each teacher.
An analysis of the data showed no statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest scores of the group not participating in the garden program (the control group). There were, however, statistically significant differences between pretest and posttest scores of the experimental group who did participate. These findings indicate that the youth who participated in the garden program increased their overall life skills, as well as improved teamwork skills and self-understanding.
Research Partner
Research Category