A 2026 community service program by Sutari, Nurul Kaya,
Nurfitriana Malida, Anisa, Ramadanti, and Rohali Bundu from Universitas
Muhammadiyah Luwuk shows that mini garden learning media effectively enhances
environmental education for early childhood students at Kombutokan State
Kindergarten. The findings highlight the importance of hands-on learning
experiences in building environmental awareness from an early age.
Environmental education in early childhood settings is often
limited to classroom explanations without direct practice. In fact, young
learners understand concepts more easily through real-life experiences. At
Kombutokan State Kindergarten, teachers previously lacked learning media that
allowed children to practice planting and caring for plants, despite the school
environment offering strong potential for outdoor learning.
To address this gap, the research team implemented a two-day
program on January 12–13, involving university students, teachers, and
kindergarten students. The activity began with mentoring teachers to create a
mini garden using simple materials such as used tires filled with soil. The
program then engaged students in planting activities, including eggplant, chili
(rica), and tomato plants.
This approach integrated theory with practice, allowing
children to learn through direct interaction with their environment.
The results show significant positive outcomes:
- Students became more enthusiastic and actively engaged in learning activities
- Children gained a direct understanding of how to plant and care for crops
- A sense of responsibility in maintaining plants began to develop
- Environmental awareness increased from an early age
Observations on page 7 also indicate that students showed
high curiosity, asking questions about plant growth and participating actively
throughout the activities. Teachers also benefited by gaining practical
experience in developing simple, low-cost, environment-based learning media.
Sutari from Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk explains that
mini garden–based learning provides more meaningful educational experiences
than theoretical methods alone. According to her, children not only understand
environmental concepts but also build habits of caring for nature through
direct practice.
The impact extends beyond students. Teachers now have a
sustainable learning tool that can be reused in future lessons, while schools
can expand similar programs to enrich their teaching strategies. The mini
garden also serves as a simple learning laboratory that supports children’s
motor, social, and cognitive development.
However, the study notes that the success of such programs
depends on the availability of facilities and ongoing support. Collaboration
between schools, educators, and policymakers is essential to further develop
environment-based learning approaches.
In the long term, mini gardens offer a practical and
innovative model for early childhood education, helping instill environmental
responsibility through engaging and experiential learning.
Author Profile
- Sutari - Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk
- Nurul Kaya- Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk
- Nurfitriana Malida- Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk
- Anisa, Ramadanti- Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk
- Rohali Bundu - Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk
Source
Sutari, Kaya, N., Malida, N., Anisa, Ramadanti, & Bundu, R. (2026). Mini
Garden Teaching Media Assistance as a Means of Environmental Conservation
Education for Early Childhood at Kombutokan State Kindergarten. Jurnal
Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5 No. 3, 249–256.
URL : https://journaljpmb.my.id/index.php/jpmb
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmb.v5i3.10
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