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Resources for Middle School

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In middle and high school, farm to school lends itself to looking at a broader view of agriculture. It often includes topics such as industrial vs. small scale food systems, public health, environmental impacts of agriculture, and food equity issues. This is a great time to prepare students to be educated food consumers and understand the impacts of their food purchasing decisions.

The resources linked below were not developed by the Growing Minds program. They were compiled by a member of our team who is a former high school science teacher and represent what she considers to be the best of what is available.

Curricula

Garden Genetics: Teaching with Edible Plants: Teach genetics, ecology, and examine ethical issues through the use of cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes.
Note: this curriculum does not specifically focus on local food but could easily be adapted to include it.

FoodSpan: This high school curriculum was developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and empowers students to make healthy and responsible food choices. Features include: 17 lesson plans, 2 short films, and 100+ hands-on activities and extensions that can serve as homework assignments or group projects. FoodSpan is aligned to national education standards, relevant to students' lived experiences, and customizable so teachers can choose to work through the entire curriculum or teach stand-alone lessons.

Kentucky Farm 2 School Curriculum 9th-12th grades: Using USDA's MyPlate as a guide, this extensive interdisciplinary curriculum investigates each of the six food groups, the sources of these foods, the relationship between local production and improved food quality and nutrition, understanding the importance of agricultural businesses in the community, and increases students consumption of local foods. It includes pre and post activities for evaluation. It can be modified for use in states other than Kentucky.

Nourish Curriculum Guide: Through films and classroom activities, this curriculum can be used in a variety of subject areas to have students investigate the story of their food, the effect their food choices have, and look at food-related issues. There is also an online food literacy quiz for students to test their knowledge of food production.

Books

The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table, by Tracie McMillan: Journalist Tracie McMillan goes undercover to chronicle what it is like to work jobs in the food industry and live off the wages.

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World, by Michael Pollan: Learn about the relationship between people and domesticated plants. This book includes a companion documentary and online teacher's guide.

Choice, Control, & Change: Using Science to Make Food and Activity Decisions, by Koch, Contento, Barton (National Gardening Association): Learn about the human body systems and how food and activity are important in its well being through studying diet and activity choices. (Grades 6-8).

Farm to Table and Beyond, by Koch, Contento, Barton (National Gardening Association): Learn science through studying our food system and begin to see how your food choices impact the environment. (Grades 5-6).

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual, by Michael Pollan: Introduce your students to straightforward, witty rules for eating wisely.

French Fries and the Food System: A Year-Round Curriculum Connecting Youth with Farming and Food, by Sara Coblyn: Activities to engage teenagers from various backgrounds with agriculture and food systems.

Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating, by Jane Goodall: Jane Goodall explains how to create positive change based on our food choices.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, by Michael Pollan: Look at how to make thoughtful food choices based on Pollan's advice, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, Young Readers Edition, by Michael Pollan: Follow different food chains- industrial, organic, local sustainable, and foraged- from their source to the table. A teacher's guide for using this book can be found online. Or, check out this 7th grade unit which uses the book to help students learn how to analyze and navigate informational texts.

Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System, by Mary Appelhoff: This is the ultimate guide for vermicomposting! Learn how to set up and maintain successful, productive small-scale worm composting systems.

Movies & Films

Botany of Desire: Look at the relationship between humans and domesticated plants. This video is a great way to look at how plants have evolved due to human influences. Note: You will want to preview this movie to make sure all parts are appropriate for your class.

Food, Inc: This documentary provides a critical look at the industrialized nature of our country's food supply. A great resource for this movie is the Food, Inc. Discussion Guide. Use this guide, along with the movie, to promote critical thinking and understanding complex issues. Note: You will want to preview this movie to make sure all parts are appropriate for your class.

Food for Thought Food for Life: We want our food fast, convenient, and cheap, but at what cost? This short film explains the downsides of current agribusiness practices, and also introduces us to farmers, chefs, researchers, educators, and advocates who are providing solutions. There is also a discussion guide containing thought provoking prompts and activities.

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In middle and high school, farm to school lends itself to looking at a broader view of agriculture. It often includes topics such as industrial vs. small scale food systems, public health, environmental impacts of agriculture, and food equity issues. [...]

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FRESH is a documentary featuring Michael Pollan, Will Allen and Joel Salatin which celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.

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Thank you, Mr. Duran!

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Thank you, Mr. Duran!

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The best chile is from our Van Buren Garden!

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The best chile is from our Van Buren Garden!

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Ms. Newton-Yarber's class

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Mrs. Garcia and Mr. Minefee's classes.

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American Chessnut (Paired Reading with Worldwide Loss of Bees)

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American Chessnut (Paired Reading with Worldwide Loss of Bees)

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readworks.org

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American Chessnut (Paired Reading with Worldwide Loss of Bees)

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American Chessnut (Paired Reading with Worldwide Loss of Bees)

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Worldwide Loss of Bees (Paired Reading with American Chessnut)

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Worldwide Loss of Bees (Paired Reading with American Chessnut)

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readworks.org

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Valley Nuts (Paired Reading with Urban Farms)

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Valley Nuts (Paired Reading with Urban Farms)

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readworks.org

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Urban Farms (Paired Reading with Valley Nuts)

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Urban Farms (Paired Reading with Valley Nuts)

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readworks.org

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For struggling readers

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Project Learning Garden - Captain Planet Foundation

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Project Learning Garden™ was designed based on: 1) Best practices in project-based learning; 2) Best practices in schoolyard garden programs; and 3) Research into what practices shape eating behaviors in children as they grow.

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Resources

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In middle and high school, farm to school lends itself to looking at a broader view of agriculture. It often includes topics such as industrial vs. small scale food systems, public health, environmental impacts of agriculture, and food equity issues. This is a great time to prepare students to be educated food consumers and understand the impacts of their food purchasing decisions.

The resources linked below were not developed by the Growing Minds program. They were compiled by a member of our team who is a former high school science teacher and represent what she considers to be the best of what is available.

Curricula

Garden Genetics: Teaching with Edible Plants: Teach genetics, ecology, and examine ethical issues through the use of cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes.
Note: this curriculum does not specifically focus on local food but could easily be adapted to include it.

FoodSpan: This high school curriculum was developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and empowers students to make healthy and responsible food choices. Features include: 17 lesson plans, 2 short films, and 100+ hands-on activities and extensions that can serve as homework assignments or group projects. FoodSpan is aligned to national education standards, relevant to students' lived experiences, and customizable so teachers can choose to work through the entire curriculum or teach stand-alone lessons.

Kentucky Farm 2 School Curriculum 9th-12th grades: Using USDA's MyPlate as a guide, this extensive interdisciplinary curriculum investigates each of the six food groups, the sources of these foods, the relationship between local production and improved food quality and nutrition, understanding the importance of agricultural businesses in the community, and increases students consumption of local foods. It includes pre and post activities for evaluation. It can be modified for use in states other than Kentucky.

Nourish Curriculum Guide: Through films and classroom activities, this curriculum can be used in a variety of subject areas to have students investigate the story of their food, the effect their food choices have, and look at food-related issues. There is also an online food literacy quiz for students to test their knowledge of food production.

Books

The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table, by Tracie McMillan: Journalist Tracie McMillan goes undercover to chronicle what it is like to work jobs in the food industry and live off the wages.

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World, by Michael Pollan: Learn about the relationship between people and domesticated plants. This book includes a companion documentary and online teacher's guide.

Choice, Control, & Change: Using Science to Make Food and Activity Decisions, by Koch, Contento, Barton (National Gardening Association): Learn about the human body systems and how food and activity are important in its well being through studying diet and activity choices. (Grades 6-8).

Farm to Table and Beyond, by Koch, Contento, Barton (National Gardening Association): Learn science through studying our food system and begin to see how your food choices impact the environment. (Grades 5-6).

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual, by Michael Pollan: Introduce your students to straightforward, witty rules for eating wisely.

French Fries and the Food System: A Year-Round Curriculum Connecting Youth with Farming and Food, by Sara Coblyn: Activities to engage teenagers from various backgrounds with agriculture and food systems.

Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating, by Jane Goodall: Jane Goodall explains how to create positive change based on our food choices.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, by Michael Pollan: Look at how to make thoughtful food choices based on Pollan's advice, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, Young Readers Edition, by Michael Pollan: Follow different food chains- industrial, organic, local sustainable, and foraged- from their source to the table. A teacher's guide for using this book can be found online. Or, check out this 7th grade unit which uses the book to help students learn how to analyze and navigate informational texts.

Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System, by Mary Appelhoff: This is the ultimate guide for vermicomposting! Learn how to set up and maintain successful, productive small-scale worm composting systems.

Movies & Films

Botany of Desire: Look at the relationship between humans and domesticated plants. This video is a great way to look at how plants have evolved due to human influences. Note: You will want to preview this movie to make sure all parts are appropriate for your class.

Food, Inc: This documentary provides a critical look at the industrialized nature of our country's food supply. A great resource for this movie is the Food, Inc. Discussion Guide. Use this guide, along with the movie, to promote critical thinking and understanding complex issues. Note: You will want to preview this movie to make sure all parts are appropriate for your class.

Food for Thought Food for Life: We want our food fast, convenient, and cheap, but at what cost? This short film explains the downsides of current agribusiness practices, and also introduces us to farmers, chefs, researchers, educators, and advocates who are providing solutions. There is also a discussion guide containing thought provoking prompts and activities.

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In middle and high school, farm to school lends itself to looking at a broader view of agriculture. It often includes topics such as industrial vs. small scale food systems, public health, environmental impacts of agriculture, and food equity issues. [...]

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Video (see guide on this page)

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Article for Students

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Sustainability

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This teacher and kid friendly web site provides educators and students with information, lesson plans, activities, and state contacts to increase agricultural literacy.

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Food Justice

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Toolkit for "Serving Up Food Justice at School"

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This toolkit accompanies the article "Serving Up Justice at School," and provides a classroom activity that engages students in learning about the food in their daily lives through an interdisciplinary social-action project.

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Schools and community gardens are living classrooms with great potential for learning. In How to Grow a School Garden, Arden Buck-Sporer and Rachel Kathleen Pringle cite the following:

Numerous studies point to school gardens as a means of improving academic achievement, promoting healthy lifestyles, demonstrating the principles of stewardship, encouraging community and social development, and instilling a sense of place.

In addition, gardens are places where students can connect with global issues through the natural resources of earth, advance community development efforts through neighborhood beautification, and leave their green-print in our ecosystem. Gardens, and the people in the community near your garden, are an incredible asset to schools and out-of-school-time programs. Your garden doesn't have to fit one model. In fact, there are many models that your school or organization can follow.

Below are practical, feasible ideas for you to begin growing these benefits in your community.

Academic Enrichment

A study from Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Learning Through the Garden, shows that gardens can function as living laboratories. Students who participate in gardening have a considerable increase in grade point average, utilize new learning styles, and develop their perspectives and ways of learning to incorporate critical 21st-century skills such as "curiosity, flexibility, open-mindedness, informed skepticism, creativity, and critical thinking."

Here are some activity examples that could be used in a gardening unit:

Food and Nutrition/Food Security

Access to food and nutrition unfortunately does not come readily to everyone, and millions of children and adults stare into the face of food insecurity every year. According to Feeding America, giving children proper nutrition and access to food can impact "physical and mental health, academic achievement, and future economic prosperity." Gardens can be an integral part of providing nutrition to children.

Consider these activities:

Ecological Sustainability

Composting and waste reduction teach students sustainable practices. Not only does composting add nutrients to the soil, decomposition is also a large part of science curriculums.

Here are a few sample activities:

Plant fruit trees around your neighborhood in order to contribute to your community's nutrition and air quality.

The American Community Garden Association has an excellent series with free environmental education lesson plans.

San Francisco involved students in environmental stewardship through their Food to Flowers! program. Think about your program's meals or snacks and how you can join the movement to protect the environment.

If such a small act of planting trees on the corner can make a dent in the sustainability of a neighborhood, think about the impact that trees and gardens across the world can make on our global food system! Visit the Green Education Foundation for garden plans and topics such as water conservation and recycling.

Program Management

There is no shortage of great resources available for your garden. Here are just a few starting places:

Collaborating with math, science, and art teachers can bring additional ideas for using gardens as hands-on reinforcement of what they are teaching in those classrooms. Field trips to community gardens and farmers' markets can inspire young minds. If you are in a cold climate, consider learning about greenhouses and hydroponics. These tools allow farmers to simulate a warmer climate and grow various fruits and vegetables all year long. Gardens -- inside or outside, big or small -- support academic and 21st-century skills development.

Does your school have a garden program? In the comments section below, please tell us about how it works.

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Schools and community gardens are living classrooms with great potential for learning. In How to Grow a School Garden , Arden Buck-Sporer and Rachel Kathleen Pringle cite the following: Numerous studies point to school gardens as a means of improving academic achievement, promoting healthy lifestyles, demonstrating the principles of stewardship, encouraging community and social development, and instilling a sense of place.

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Lesson/Resources for al subject areas.