When people think of a greenhouse, they usually imagine large greenhouses run by commercial nurseries. But there are greenhouses that are operated by home vegetable growers, hobby gardeners, and there are even school greenhouses. If you haven't seen one, school greenhouses are a novel way to enhance education. However, the benefits must be weighed against practical concerns. For educators looking to add an alternative to traditional education, there are some benefits to school greenhouses.

Learning With Participation

One of the things that make greenhouses a big winner for learning is that they offer a hands-on learning experience. Kids learn about the life cycle and the stages of plants by helping to make them grow and by using school greenhouses in practical experiments. It's one thing to see a picture of a plant in a textbook, but it's a different experience to be able to examine a real plant up close and learn about the parts of a flower, about how pollination works, or to examine leaves. If you have hydroponics in your greenhouse, kids get to see root systems while you explain how they work. For those who learn best with hands-on experience, school greenhouses can greatly enhance the learning process.

Fun For The School Community

In addition to the educational benefits, school greenhouses give new opportunities for extracurricular activities as well as something to brag about in the school newsletter. A gardening club that meets before or after school might give kids a way to start a lifelong hobby of gardening, learning to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables. And the results can be showpieces in school events, such as open houses.

The Cost

Of course, the thing about school greenhouses is that you need to budget for them. School greenhouses can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to build, and that's not counting further maintenance costs. In order to install these at your school, you will need to convince the school board that it's worth the budget.

One thing that you'll need to factor in the design of school greenhouses, and ultimately the cost, is the climate you live in and how you will structure the use of the greenhouse through the school year. For instance, school greenhouses in Florida may not need much equipment to operate, even in the winter, while one in Vermont would likely still need to have additional heating equipment installed if you intend to use it throughout the entire school year. Still, despite the cost and trouble of working out the logistics of installing school greenhouses, they can add an exciting new activity for educational environments at all levels.