Curriculum Writer Rikita Henderson: Learning through Play

MGE’s new classroom curriculum is written by practicing educators in Georgia who know what works. First grade teacher, mom, and nature enthusiast Rikita Henderson is one of MGE’s talented lesson plan creators, helping to bring science alive for elementary school children throughout Metro Atlanta.

A Cobb County native, Rikita attended Osborne High School in Marietta and went on to achieve an undergraduate business degree from Kennesaw State University, with an emphasis in Human Resources. After 10 years working in corporate HR, Rikita made a big move: she went back to school to earn a Masters Degree in Teacher Education and for the last few years, has inspired 1st graders at Nickajack Elementary School in West Cobb.

“First graders come into the year as babies and experience so much growth throughout the school year. We use crafts to learn through play. We embrace their natural gifts for exploration and imagination to experience what they’re learning,” Rikita shared.

Science has always been one of her favorite subjects and from a young age, gardening was a big part of Rikita’s life. As both a teacher and a mom, Rikita embraces engaging with the outdoors as a natural way of learning. Before she became a teacher, Rikita started her daughters’ outdoor education when they were infants.

“Our natural environment makes us happy. My children were outside from almost their first moments as infants. Learning how our earth works helps us to learn creativity and problem solving. We even do our homework outside. Why be inside when we can be outside?,” Rikita said.

In her classroom, Henderson helps her class create window gardens. They plant seeds in windowsill containers with clear bottoms, so they can see the seeds take root as they grow and become fruitful. She helps her students learn with simple plants that will set them up for success. “You can’t kill beans, no matter how hard you try!”

After teaching this lesson in her classroom, Rikita helped to write a lesson plan for MGE using the same exercise. Connected to Georgia learning standards, it is written for teachers, by a teacher, in a format that makes it easy to execute in the classroom.

Rikita encourages us to keep learning outside at all ages. Resources to learn and start practicing sustainability are more accessible than you think. We have many recycling centers in our area. To start, consider moving your home’s television from inside to your outside patio to reconnect with the outdoors. Breathing the fresh air and simply being outside will be a first step in helping you start exploring more about our natural environment.

Want to learn more about MGE’s school programs? Contact bethany@mygreenearth.org.