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

OBJECTIVE: FoodACT aims to investigate how school gardens affect children's food literacy (FL), climate change literacy (CCL), school motivation (SM), and physical activity (PA).

DESIGN: 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).

SETTING: Six GtB school garden locations across Region Zealand and Region of Southern Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS: 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.

INTERVENTION: Pupils grow, prepare and cook foods for meals in the school garden during eight garden sessions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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.

ANALYSIS: 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.