Sow the Seeds of a Virtual Victory Garden

Yes, you read correctly, that is a Virtual Victory Garden. This week we unveiled the latest of our Victory Garden initiatives: a virtual field trip that explores the steps to grow a garden right through your computer or television screen.

As evidenced by the multitude of home and urban gardens springing up in the past few years, along with the local and slow food movements, students across the country are encountering gardens in their schools, communities, and  backyards. This program demonstrates the key steps to grow a successful garden while exploring the important values from the war such as teamwork, community service, and optimism. It also facilitates discussions on nutrition and food choices. Gardening can be one of the many ways to become more active, involved, and healthy.

After a short introduction to Victory Gardens, the students compete against one another in an exciting board game. Each round of the game, they have to complete an activity to advance to the next space.  When talking about garden bugs, the students have an opportunity to show me what their own jitterbug dance looks like. Then to a chorus of “whoas,” “ooohs,” and “ahhs,” I show them a clip of jitterbug dancers and lindy-hoppers from the 1940s. It’s entertaining and informative for all!

Virtual Victory Garden is the tenth Virtual Field Trip we’ve created. Another exciting tidbit: it’s the first virtual program that’s specifically designed for primary school students.  Victory Gardens are a great way to introduce younger children to the lasting lessons of World War II, without delving into some of the more complex topics of the war.

As the Virtual Classroom Coordinator, I connect with schools across the country via videoconferencing technology. Using artifacts, posters, oral histories, photographs, and other primary source materials, I share a slice of our story with students who may not ever visit the museum in person.

Find out how to invite us into your classroom.

Posted by Chrissy Gregg, Virtual Classroom Coordinator at The National WWII Museum.