At Warrawong Public School, lessons in science, technology, permaculture and life skills are taught outside among vegetables and thriving banana palms.
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The school's lush garden is the epicentre of an innovative pilot program that brings students from the support unit together with mainstream peers.
The students work on modules designed to teach skills in planting and maintaining a garden, working safely and creatively in the kitchen, and conducting science experiments.
Teacher Chris Gleeson said the school enlisted university education students to teach concepts in science, technology and permaculture in garden and kitchen settings.
"Science is one of the subjects that tend to be pushed back in primary schools - for obvious reasons literacy and numeracy get priority," she said.
"We decided to work with the University [of Wollongong] because we're not experts."
The students' tutelage culminated on Monday in a permaculture presentation, including a science exhibition, garden tours, and a "plant to plate" product tasting session in the school kitchen.
A stock of preserves produced throughout term - house-made zucchini chutney, spicy tomato relish and Chinese mulberry jam - went on sale for $2.50 a jar.
Proceeds from the sale will go into buying garden supplies.
Student Mihajlo Jocic has helped tend the garden even in his holidays and says it has made him realise the value of the natural world.
"Cities keep on getting bigger and there are less gardens - everyone's just buying [produce] from the shops," Mihajlo said.
"We need gardens. They help nature, they help us breathe and they give us food."
School environment co-ordinator Ashlea Travis said the garden had brought out a different side in some students.
"There's no fighting when we're down here - they all work together," she said.
"With some of the more behaviourally challenged kids, I can see the change in their leadership skills. They take on different roles than they would in the classroom. It brings out different attitudes."