The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is a pleasurable food education program that was started in 2015 at Sutton to compliment the new kitchen. This program is operating in hundreds of schools throughout Australia.
Kitchen and garden classes are part of the curriculum and in 2019 will be held weekly in terms 1, 2 and 4 for years 3/4. Students participate with physical work in small groups to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.
We have two teachers as our Kitchen and Garden Teachers; Mrs Frame and Mrs Doran.
Parent, grandparent or friend volunteers are needed to facilitate small group work. The more volunteers we have the better the delivery of the program. Volunteers work with children in the kitchen and garden, or could come in at other times to help.
Philosophy
- Practical learning occurs in small groups that are hands-on and assisted by volunteers.
- Students learn by repeating fundamental skills, for example chopping an onion or harvesting a vegetable.
- We persuade by doing – the Program models positive and pleasurable behaviour, and does not use terminology surrounding obesity, healthiness etc.
- At the end of each kitchen class, adults sit with children to share the food prepared.
As the program develops at Sutton we hope to engage students regularly with activities in the garden and kitchen and encourage them to taste and learn about healthy, delicious fresh food so they will grow to enjoy eating healthy, fresh, and seasonal flavours. By participating actively they will learn more about the natural world and how it relates to them living healthy lives.
Mrs Robyn Doran and Mrs Helen Frame
