Resources
Curriculum
- Grow It, Try It, Like It! - USDA pre-K
7 curriculum packages with many activities featuring different fruits and vegetables
- Food For Thought - Healthy Preschoolers pre-K
32 lessons structured around 5 themes: Fall Fruits and Vegetables, Winter Fruits and Vegetables, Go-Grains, Power up with Proteins, and Spring Snacking
- Growing Minds Farm to School - ASAP pre-K, K - 2
Recipe & garden lesson plans by month with classroom activity & corresponding books; incorporates NC & national curriculum; all connected to Common Core, Essential Standards, age-appropriate literature
- Bug Out - 4-H / NC Cooperative Extension 2 - 5
Insect based activities that emphasize experiential, hands-on learning with a goal of increasing understanding and appreciation of insects and reducing fear of insects
- Soil Solutions - 4-H / NC Cooperative Extension 3
School enrichment curriculum correlated to 3rd grade science objectives with the Common Core and NC Essential Standards; 8 engaging lessons can be used to enrich conceptual understanding of plant and soils
- The Great Garden Detective - USDA 3, 4
11 lessons with activities linking garden to classroom, cafeteria and home; also focus on agricultural literacy, farming & food systems
- Nutrition to Grow On - UC Davis, Center for Nutrition in Schools 4 - 6
9 lessons linking the garden with nutrition education; garden integrated with science, math, language arts, history, environment, nutrition and health areas of study
- Dr. Dirt: Teaching Resources about Soil - Dr. Dirt K - 5
Science-based lessons and activities centered around soil.
- Soil Lessons & Activities - Soil Science Society of America K - 12
A large bank of lessons and activities related to soil. Material is organized by soil topic and grade level. There is also a free teacher's guide with many resources including objectives, powerpoints, teaching notes, and questions for testing.
- Soils 4 Kids - Soil Science Society of America K - 12
Soil activities and experiments geared towards kids as well as career exploration and soil in your community.
- NC Ag in the Classroom - Farm Bureau pre-K - 5
A substantial selection of free curriculum specific to North Carolina and based on the Common Core and Essential Standards
- BIG IDEAS - Center for Ecoliteracy & National Geographic K - 12
Key concepts and lessons aligned with recent academic standards.
Activities
- Make an awesome classroom garden sign!
- Start a garden journal where students add observations from the garden, ideas, poems...
- Publish a garden newsletter reporting on garden activities, plans & progress
- Give garden tours to parents, school staff, other students & community members
- Create a classroom garden website or blog
- Long list of classroom project ideas at KidsGardening
Games
- Awesome Eats! - Whole Kids Foundation (age 3+)
- Blast-Off Game - USDA Team Nutrition
- Soil 4 Kids Games - Soil Science Society of America K - 12
Funding Resources
- Annie's Garden Funder™ - Raise funds for your school and win grants up to $1,000; weekly prizes also given
- Lowe's Toolbox for Education - Grants up to $5,000; Next application cycle is 2014-2015