The purpose of this partnership is to support and promote the use of plants as a vehicle for learning across the curriculum in K-12 classrooms nationally.

History

In the fall of 2002, a small group of representatives from nationally focused not-for-profits convened to grapple with a challenging question: how could we work with other national organizations and programs to promote the use of plants as a vehicle for standards-based learning across the curriculum? This reasoning was based on our shared knowledge about how children like to learn and what experiences are powerful in helping children achieve cognitive, physical, social and emotional growth. We agreed with the National Research Council’s 2000 report, How People Learn: Brain, Mind and Experience, that emphasized the importance of problem-solving, multi-sensory, learning environments for children.

Out of this initial meeting was formed a national group, the Partnership for Plant-Based Education (PPBE). The major partners to date are the United States Botanic Garden, the National Gardening Association, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the American Horticultural Society and the National Wildlife Federation.

NEW! Uses of Active, Plant-Based Learning (APBL) in K-12 Educational Settings.

The white paper commissioned by the Partnership for Plant-Based Education has been completed.

Click here to view executive summary.

Click here to view complete white paper.

The paper consists of a review of the relevant literature and leading best practice settings across the nation. The purpose of the paper is to establish a basis for educational leaders to understand the enormously positive role that active, plant-based learning can play in educational settings. It is also intended to serve as the starting point for discussion among plant-based education groups.

Members

National Gardening Association
Contact: Mike Metallo, President, mikem@garden.org, (802) 863-5251 x 123

American Horticultural Society
Contact: Katy Moss Warner, President, kmwarner@ahs.org, (703) 768-5700 x 123

United States Botanic Garden
Contact: Christine Flanagan, Manager, Public Programs, Cflanaga@aoc.gov, (202) 225-1269

National Wildlife Federation
Contact: Bill Street, street@nwf.org, phone: (703) 438-6000

Chicago Botanic Garden
Contact: Patsy Benveniste, Director of Education, pbenveni@chicagobotanic.org, (847) 835-6945

Congress

The first congress took place in Washington, DC, at the American Horticultural Society headquarters, River Farm, on April 29th and 30th, 2004.