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Resources (R) Activities (A) Lesson Plans (L) Link to PDF Download (PDF)
Insects
2nd Grade: Insect Jeopardy (L) (PDF)
Students use books and handouts to create game show questions about insects and then form teams and play the game.
Insect Songs (A)
Two songs about bees. Opens as a PDF.
Partners in Pollination (L) (A) (R) - Smithsonian in Your Classroom
A detailed lesson plan with activities and resources for grades 4-9. Opens as a PDF.
K-2: Biscuits and Honey (A) (R)
Students read the book The Bee Tree and make connections to math, science, and writing. Opens as a PDF.
Science Jeopardy (L) (PDF)
Students break into teams and create a jeopardy game.
Plants
Glorious Weeds (R) - Green Teacher
A guide to edible weeds for older students. Opens as a PDF.
3-5: Parts of a Plant (R) (A) -Hands-On Science
An activity to help students identify the parts and special features of plants. Opens as a PDF.
3rd grade: Planting Starts (L) (PDF)
Students discuss warm and cool season plants, as well as which plants might need a “head start” inside. Students plant seeds in six pack containers and make predictions.
Plant list for Pre-K Gardens (R)
A useful list of nontoxic plants that are safe for preschoolers. (Outside link)
5th Grade: Experimental Garden Planning (L) (PDF)
Students plant beans and set up an experiment.
K-5: Lettuce Be Different (A)(L)
Students talk about similarities and diffences with different varities of lettuce as an example. (Outside link)
2-3: Pumpkin Observations (L)
After taking a trip to a pumpkin patch, students make observations and collect data about pumpkins. (Outside link)
Starting Sweet Potato Vines (A)
An activity that teaches children how potatoes grow. Opens as a PDF. (Outside link)
Sprouts Away! (A)
Children plant sweet potatoes from slips. Opens as a PDF. (Outside link)
Seeds
Seed Saving Tips (R)
Tips for harvesting and saving seeds for next season. A great resource for school gardens.
1st Grade: Planting Seeds (L) (PDF)
Students discuss what plants need to grow, plant seeds, and make predictions about their plants growth.
1st Grade: Making Your Own Seed Tapes (R) (A) (PDF)
How to make biodegradable seed tapes. A great way to combine measuring and gardening.
K-6: A Handful of Seeds (R)(A)(L)
A fantastic resource! This PDF contains helpful background information about seeds, many detailed lesson plans for students of all ages, and curriculum ideas.
Seed Activities (A)(R) (PDF)
Activity ideas to tie seeds in with the curriculum. Also includes a book list.
Soil
Adding Compost to the Garden (A) (PDF)
An introduction to compost for young children.
K-3: Then What Happened? (A) (PDF)
An activity based on Diary of a Worm, by Doreen Cronin
Tree Planting: Preventing Erosion (A) (PDF)
Students learn about the role of trees in preventing erosion and plant a tree by the creek.
1st Grade: Soil (L) (PDF)
Students explore components of soil by sorting samples from different locations.
1st Grade: Worms (L) (PDF)
Students hear a story about worms and observe real worms.
Background Information for Teachers: Soil (R) (PDF)
Basic soil information for teachers.
3rd Grade: Mystery Soils: Soil Texture (A) (PDF)
This fun activity helps to familiarize students with different types of soil.
3rd grade: Soil Jeopardy (L) (PDF)
Students use books and handouts to create game show questions about soils and then form teams and play the game.
Gardening
Early introductions to Sensory Gardens: Infants and Toddlers (R) (PDF)
Tips for introducing young children to gardens utilizing all of the senses.
Building Positive Experiences with Healthy Food: Gardening with Preschoolers (R) (PDF)
Strategies for gardening with preschoolers.
Gardening Throughout the Seasons (R) (PDF)
Tips for engaging children with gardening during the winter months.
10 Steps to a Successful Children's Garden Project (R)
Easy steps to encourage young gardeners. (Outside link)
1st Grade: Habitat Garden (L) (PDF)
Students help to create a habitat garden.
K-3: Construct a Bean Stalk Fort (A)
Learn about growing beans and construct a bean teepee in the school garden. Opens as a PDF.
K-2: Vegetable Soup (A) (R)
Students read the book Growing Vegetable Soup and make connections to math, science, and writing. Opens as a PDF.
Permaculture (R)
Tips to aid teachers in applying permaculture techniques to school gardens. Opens as a PDF.
Garden Planning - Kindergarten (L) (PDF)
Students create a garden journal and plan what they need for a garden.
Garden Planning - 1st Grade (L) (PDF)
Students create a garden journal and plan what they need for a garden.
Garden Planning - 2nd Grade (L) (PDF)
Students create a garden journal and plan what they need for a garden.
Garden Planning - 3rd Grade (L) (PDF)
Students create a garden journal and plan what they need for a garden.
Garden Planning - 5th Grade (L) (PDF)
Students create a garden journal and plan what they need for a garden.
Planning an Experimental Garden (L) (PDF)
Students create an experimental garden, altering variables and measuring results.
Trout
Love letters to trout (A)
A language arts lesson that teaches students to express appreciation. (outside link)
Bye Bye Trout song (A)
A song about saying goodbye to trout - great for the drive home after a trip to a trout farm. (outside link)
Dream Stream (A)
A lesson to teach students about the factors that make up a healthy stream ecosystem. (outside link)
Cooking and Food
K-5: Connecting cooking with curriculum (R)
Ideas and strategies for incorporating cooking into curriculum for every grade level. Opens as a PDF.
K: Pumpkin and Apple WOW Board (L) (PDF)
Students formulate questions about pumpkins and apples that they research before taking a trip to a farm.
K: Tasting Apples (L) (PDF)
Students taste different colors of apples and make a graph based on which ones they like best.
K and 3: Stone Soup (L) (PDF)
Kindergarten students team up with third grade buddies and make stone soup.
First Grade: Cucumber Soup (L) (PDF)
A tie in with the book, Cucumber Soup, this lesson plan has students do 4 cucumber themed activities at centers.
3rd Grade: Apple Taste Testing (L) (PDF)
Students learn about different varieties of apples and have a taste test.
An Apple a Day (L) - Student Version
An Apple a Day (L) - Teacher Version
A detailed lesson plan where students juice apples.
Bacteria for Breakfast (L) - Student Version
Bacteria for Breakfast (L) - Teacher Version
Students learn to make yogurt and make predictions about the process.
Got Butter? (L) - Student Version
Got Butter? (L) - Teacher Version
Students make predictions and then make butter from different milks.
A-maizing Corn (L) - Student Version
A-maizing Corn (L) - Teacher Version
Students learn about corn and then make popcorn.
Green Eggs and Ham (L) - Student Version
Green Eggs and Ham (L) - Teacher Version
Students compare the differences between commercial eggs and eggs from the farmers market.
What is in Season? (L) - Student Version
What is in Season? (L) - Teacher Version
Exploring the differences between heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables and commercial varieties.
Inch by Inch, Row by Row (L) - Student Version
Inch by Inch, Row by Row (L) - Teacher Version
Students calculate how much land was required to grow the vegetables for their vegetable soup.
In a pickle (L) - Student Version
In a pickle (L) - Teacher Version
Students learn different preservation methods, including how to make pickles.
Why We Buy (L) - Student Version
Why We Buy (L) - Teacher Version
Students compare and contrast ground beef from different sources and learn why some people might make different choices.
Other Activities
Back to School Activities (A) (PDF)
Fun activities for fall and the start of the school year.
K-3: Activities for the Outdoors (A) (PDF)
Some general ideas of how to connect the outdoors to lessons learned in the classroom.
Garden Scavenger Hunt (A) (PDF)
A fun outdoor scavenger hunt for older students.
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