Five Easy Steps to Garden Signs

Garden signs can transform any garden into an Outdoor Classroom. One can make a garden sign out of just about anything. This year I have been playing around with a few different materials and my favorite material at the moment are Ceder wooden shingles.

Signs created by children can capture the essence of any Outdoor Classroom and can quickly transform any neglected outdoor space. I highly recommend involving children in the garden this process.

Here are a 5 simple steps to get you started. 

Step One: Purchase and gather materials. Decide what you want to use for your sign. Repurposing wood is a great place to start. Purchasing a bundle of Natural White Ceder Shingles is another option. Gather acrylic paint, paint brushes, black thick Sharpie pens, water, and newspaper.

Step Two: Brainstorm a list of Outdoor Learning Stations and plants that you want to identify in the garden. Use larger signs to define the Learning Stations. For example Compost, Flowers, Vegetables and Gathering Place. Choose the top words that you want for each sign and write each word on an index card.

Step Three: Paint wood blocks and/or shingles. Give each child a piece of wood or a shingle, a word and a paint color. Invite children to have fun painting.

Step Four: Write words and pictures. Once the blocks of wood or shingles are dry invite children to write the word they have chosen with the black sharpie pen. Encourage children to add any additional pictures to their signs.

Step Five: Hang sign. This can be done in many different ways. Add wire to hang the signs on a post or attach the sign a longer piece of wood or to a stick.

We added a sign to our mini window box Intergenerational Garden. A good example of how a simple home-made garden sign can transform any garden into a Children’s Garden and Outdoor Classroom.

Take a picture of your home-made signs and post here.

Want to learn more?

Check out the Teaching in the Dirt: Designing Outdoor Classrooms e-Course.