DESIGNING NATURE FRIENDLY SCHOOL GARDENS: IMPLEMENTING VISIONS OF STUDENTS

Education is one of the most important factors for a child to become an individual. School and school gardens are indispensable elements of child education. But in our country school gardens are not as important as school buildings. However, school gardens are an important part of children's physical and mental development. The information that children gain by playing and living in school gardens is as important as the information they earn through the education they receive from the schools. Lack of institutional management, inadequate design of green areas and unplanned settlements lead to construction of gardens with solid textures in school campuses. However, children should be offered the opportunity to be involved with nature. They should be given a chance to live by learning and feeling the nature. Ill this study, it is aimed to determine the items and qualities that should be in school gardens from the children's point of view. The study was conducted with a group of 100 students consisting of second, third and fourth grade students in a randomly selected primary school. The methodology is based on semi-structured interviews and drawing exercises with students. The aim was to catch the imagination of the students which are direct users of school gardens on daily basis. As a result, it is determined that children prefer more green space in their schools' gardens and imagine interior spaces with items such as water, sand and soil. Suggestions have been made on how school gardens should be in line with pupils' views.