The impact of a school garden program on children's food literacy, climate change literacy, school motivation, and physical activity: A study protocol.

<h4>Objective</h4>FoodACT aims to investigate how school gardens affect children's food literacy (FL), climate change literacy (CCL), school motivation (SM), and physical activity (PA).<h4>Design</h4>It comprises a multimethod, quasi-experimental inquiry into an existing...

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Main Authors: Anna Stage, Marie Caroline Vermund, Mads Bølling, Camilla Roed Otte, Alberte Laura Oest Müllertz, Peter Bentsen, Glen Nielsen, Peter Elsborg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320574
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Summary:<h4>Objective</h4>FoodACT aims to investigate how school gardens affect children's food literacy (FL), climate change literacy (CCL), school motivation (SM), and physical activity (PA).<h4>Design</h4>It comprises a multimethod, quasi-experimental inquiry into an existing Danish school garden program, Gardens to Bellies (GtB). Data will be collected using surveys, accelerometry, semi-structured and focus-group interviews. The study is preregistered with ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT05839080).<h4>Setting</h4>Six GtB school garden locations across Region Zealand and Region of Southern Denmark.<h4>Participants</h4>Fourth grade pupils attending GtB (approx. 1600) are recruited to the intervention group. Fourth grade pupils from schools not attending GtB (approx. 1600) are recruited to the control group.<h4>Intervention</h4>Pupils grow, prepare and cook foods for meals in the school garden during eight garden sessions.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>FL, CCL and SM are measured using pre- and post-intervention surveys in both groups. Pupils participating in GtB have their PA assessed using accelerometery, and acute SM by text-message-surveys. Semi-structured and focus-groups interviews are held with garden facilitators and pupils focusing on the implementation of GtB and mechanisms related to developing FL and CCL.<h4>Analysis</h4>The effect on FL, CCL and SM is assessed using linear mixed models. PA and acute SM are assessed by comparing data on days with and without GtB in a subsample of 900 pupils. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis.
ISSN:1932-6203