The garden is your natural ecology classroom! This free online booklet is full of ideas for teaching ecology in a vegetable garden setting. View Resource »
Cornell Garden-Based Learning
This experiential learning curriculum from Cornell University centers on our food system, including local foods and gardening. Garden-based activities offer an assortment of lengths and formats. Activities can be appropriate for one afternoon, a six week project, or can be incorporated into a longer program. Most are designed for grades 2-8, though are easily adaptable. Formats vary from one-pagers to full length publications. View Resource »
Dig In: Standards-Based Nutrition Education from the Ground Up
Explore a world of possibilities in the garden and on your plate using ten inquiry-based lessons that engage 5th and 6th graders in growing, harvesting, tasting, and learning about fruits and vegetables. Each lesson meets education standards in one or more of the following subjects: Science (National Academy of Sciences), English/language arts (Common Core State Standards Initiative), math (Common Core State Standards Initiative), health (American Cancer Society) View Resource »
Garden Lesson Ideas from Wisconsin Educators
During the 2015 Growing Minds course, participants were asked to briefly describe one lesson they have used in the garden that connects with core curriculum. There were so many ideas, we had to make an entire document! View Resource »
Teaching In Nature’s Classroom
In Teaching in Nature’s Classroom: Core Principles of Garden-Based Education, Nathan Larson shares a philosophy of teaching in the garden. Rooted in years of experience and supported by research, Larson presents fifteen guiding principles of garden-based education. These principles and best practices are illustrated through engaging stories from the field. The book also features a collection of vivid paintings by mural artist Becky Redelings and connections to the research literature provided by Alex Wells and Sam Dennis of the University of Wisconsin Environmental Design Lab.
We are excited to be able to offer copies of Teaching in Nature’s Classroom in both English and Spanish, free of charge! Visit the book website to receive a free copy.
