Indigenous Harvest of the Month Resources for teachers
Local Food Ambassador program and toolkit for a step-by-step guide to cafeteria taste tests of local food
education
Educational activities in farm to school are as varied as our schools themselves! From taste tests, to farm field trips, to in class learning, there are endless possibilities to incorporate food and agricultural education into your school. Farm to school activities have been shown to increase grades and test scores in K-12, as well as improve child development and social emotional learning from preschool to grade 12! (Source: National Farm to School Network).
Hands-on and experiential learning are hallmarks of farm to school education. But even if you don’t have the resources to start big, incorporating just one activity or assignment that relates to food in your classroom can make a big difference!
Check out some of the resources below from local sources providing worksheets and short activities, to national organizations providing full curricula and project based learning. Choose what works for you and incorporate wherever you can.
And learn what youth know, care about, and can do about the future of healthy food and a sustainable food system from a Spring 2020 GENYOUth Insights report.
Resources
RI Farm to School infographic to share with students (English)
RI Farm to School infographic to
share with students (Spanish)
Recommended books, games, activities and coloring pages
Lessons, articles, and principles to further ecological teaching and learning
Farm to school handouts, curriculums, activities and games
“Big Ideas” guide for ways to integrate food learning into classroom learning, covering all grade levels and standards alignment
FoodCorps lesson plans for K-5
Elementory lesson plans integrating common core standards for math and ELA with science and social studies address nutrition, food sourcing, and sustainability
Early Childhood Education Resources
Farm to ECE Learning Collaborative Materials
SAGE Sustainability Via Active Garden Education from AZ State University:
Garden-based physical activity and nutrition program for 3-5 year olds
Cultivating Joy and Wonder:
Focus on sustainability, outdoor play and learning, and equity/bias
RIDE USDA Team Nutrition:
Additional Resources
Grow It, Try It, Like it! From USDA Team Nutrition:
Garden-themed nutrition education kit for child care center staff that introduces children to: three fruits – peaches, strawberries, and cantaloupe, and three vegetables – spinach, sweet potatoes, and crookneck squash.
