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Children & Nature is a great all around website. It's especially nice to have this research showing how a garden truly provides benefits to the 'whole' child - perfect to use in grant proposals and to show administration :-)
Natalie P.

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Join a growing community of educators, families, and volunteers bringing the joys of gardening to kids.

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Gardening With Kids

Gardens can be a great place to cultivate a meaningful and fun learning experience for children. It's a natural match. Gardening can offer children an opportunity to learn the life cycle process, by which plants are grown, as well as responsibility, caretaking, independence, and environmental awareness. Introducing children to gardening is a great way to increase their awareness of where food comes from and the importance of the environment in everyday life.
Gardening Basics
One of the most important things to determine when starting a garden is the location. Ideally the garden should be placed in an area where it will receive maximum sunlight. It is also important to determine the soil quality of the area and assess what needs to be added to the soil chemistry to maximize growth potential. The soil should be dug six to ten inches. Layering the soil with some kind of organic material will help to strengthen it. Drawing up a plan of the garden is another way to help make the most of the garden's potential. Tallest plants should be at the north end of the garden, while permanent plants should be on the sides. For those who don't have a lot of space to garden, containers are another option for growing plants. Containers can be made from materials such as plastic or clay, and must have adequate drainage to avoid root rot. Plants grown in containers should be planted in a ready to use potting soil and watered frequently. Some basic gardening tools to have handy are rakes, hoes, spades, trowels, and watering cans.
At Planet Natural we're here to help you create a successful and memorable growing season with just the right-sized tools and equipment, planting kits and bug collectors to get the whole family involved! Kid-Friendly Gardening Tips
For backyard gardens, a great way to spark a child's interest is to reserve a small patch of the garden that belongs to the child. A 3×3 area is a great starting point. In this area, the child can decide what will be grown, and have room to experiment without impacting the other plants in the garden. There are child friendly garden tools that should be purchased to ensure the safety of the child gardener. Spades, cultivators, rakes, and hoes can all be bought in child sizes. Kids also enjoy exploring. Turning the garden into a little place of adventure is another great way to get children interested in gardening. Making a fun area such as a teepee or small enclosure and covering it with flowers, vines, or climbing beans can be a fun and special area for children to enjoy. The number one tip to remember when implementing a kid-friendly garden is to keep it fun. When instructing, keep the advice light, fun, and easy to understand.
Plants Kids Love to Grow
When selecting plants to grow with children, it is important to incorporate plants that the children will enjoy growing most. Children enjoy plants that have strong smells, grow quickly, and are easily recognizable. In most cases, selecting plants that have larger seeds are easier for small hands to handle. Sunflower, pea, pumpkin, and squash plants all meet these criteria. Plants that can be snacked on are also fun for children. As the food grows, it can be easily picked, such as snow peas. Lettuce, radishes, and cherry tomatoes grow quickly, which is great for children who tend to have a harder time with patience. Carrots, potatoes, and pumpkins are also fun plants for children to grow because they are easily recognizable. Children are very sensory, and enjoy unique sensory plants. Planting crops that range in textures from fuzzy, rubbery, prickly, and smooth can be very fun for children to experiment with.
Gardening Projects for Kids
Gardening with kids allows for the garden to become a very creative place. Kids love color and gardens can be a very colorful place. Rainbow gardens are a fun theme for children to participate in. Plants that represent the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and indigo) are great teaching tools that are exciting for children to plant. Another enjoyable and popular themed garden activity for children is to create a pizza garden. Organize the crops in a circle, and assign different wedges to represent different ingredients of a pizza. In each wedge, plant crops that can be found on a real pizza such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, wheat/oats, and colorful representations like marigolds. When the crops are grown, they can be used to make a pizza as a fun and tasty representation of the child's accomplishment.
Garden Projects for Kids Kids Gardening Tools, Games and Planting Kits Winter Gardening Activities for Kids Fall Gardening Projects for Kids Fun Activities With Plants Grow Nutrition at Home! The Children's Garden Project Michigan 4-H Children's Garden Presented by Michigan State University Kidsgardening.org City Blossoms School Garden and Plant-Based Education Resource Youth Gardening

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Kids Gardening: Tips, Ideas and Projects | Planet Natural

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Gardening With Kids Gardens can be a great place to cultivate a meaningful and fun learning experience for children. It's a natural match. Gardening can offer children an opportunity to learn the life cycle process, by which plants are grown, as well as responsibility, caretaking, independence, and environmental awareness.

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Great resource for Outdoor Learning and Garden Based Education- They have a good section on School Gardens with lots of resources- Larissa Kiel 

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Great resource for Outdoor Learning and Garden Based Education- They have a good section on School Gardens with lots of resources- Larissa Kiel 

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Jeffers Foundation - Environmental Stewardship Through Education

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Jeffers Foundation - Environmental Stewardship Through Education

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Great resource for gardening questions in Minnesota particularly for school gardens- Larissa Kiel 

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Great resource for gardening questions in Minnesota particularly for school gardens- Larissa Kiel 

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Schoolyard gardens plant seeds of better health and active learning.

University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener volunteers are trained in horticulture by the University of Minnesota so they can help communities solve problems. They work at the local level to provide schools with the know-how to design, maintain and teach in a schoolyard garden.

It's Wednesday morning and the kids at Crossroads School and Vocational Center in St. Francis are sitting attentively in class, knowing what comes next if they do the work expected of them.

"The Master Gardeners come every Wednesday," says Crossroads Principal Jay Powell. "The kids know they're coming."

Powell's students have significant challenges, including some who are living at a nearby residential treatment center. Extension Master Gardeners can get their hands dirty with the kids, teaching while not having to be the authority figure.

"Relationships are tough for these kids, so it's neat to see the bond as they work side by side in the planters," says Powell.

The schoolyard garden is a place to advance the quest to learn math, science, healthy living and more in an outdoor living laboratory. Master Gardeners helped design the site in 2015, including multiple raised beds and a deer-proof fence.

Jacob, a student at Crossroads School and Vocational Center, listens to ideas about cooking with basil from Lisa Wong, Extension SNAP-Ed educator.

"Our garden this year is going to produce a lot of pollen and nectar for the bees and butterflies," says Dave Berger, the science teacher at Crossroads who is also a Master Gardener in Anoka County. "The kids want to help those pollinators."

Feeding ready learners

Rachel Beehler, Extension Master Gardener volunteer, says showing students they can grow food is her passion. "We come to the school in January or February to start seeds indoors with the kids," says Rachel Beehler, a Master Gardener. "During summer school and fall we're harvesting and cooking."

Lisa Wong, an Extension educator in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), finds that the learning that takes place in the garden makes a big difference. "When the kids know where the food is coming from-when they get that familiarity with it-they are more likely to try something new."

"This strategy increases healthy food access for K-12 students in 198 schools across Minnesota," says Terri Swartout, who works across state agencies to improve health through the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership. "Master Gardeners make it happen at the ground level with the students."

In most counties, Master Gardeners are led, trained and supported by a coordinator employed by Extension. In Anoka County, Lynne Hagen leads 100 active volunteers. "Crossroads is a great example," she says. "There are so many opportunities to include horticulture in school and after-school programs."

Linked to learning

"Master Gardeners are well aware of the demands on today's teachers," says Betsy Massie, Extension Master Gardener volunteer in Hennepin County. "Our goal is to help those teachers extend their classrooms to the garden while providing lessons linked to the Minnesota Academic Standards."

The principal at Crossroads agrees. "Our staff have embraced the use of the garden across the curriculum," says Powell. "We all see how the students' minds have expanded."

In Berger's science class, for example, kids compare soil and air temperature and the growth rate of plants. They measure, record and graph the results. Woodworking classes built the raised beds, and art classes added garden sculptures.

A student named Jacob says Master Gardeners helped him learn things he likes. "They taught me about plants and when to pick them. They taught me how to check the rain gauge and water, and how to map out garden grids too."

Positive outcomes have increased the demand for Master Gardener volunteers. Massie recently helped plan and deliver a schoolyard gardens conference for 300 volunteers, teachers, school administrators and others at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Partners through the Minnesota Schoolyard Garden Coalition are working together to develop curriculum kits for volunteers.

Massie says, "Collaboration between Master Gardeners and teachers is growing, and Minnesota children are the beneficiaries."

Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener or making a gift to support schoolyard gardens? Visit Master Gardener information on our website.

Starting small

Not every school or youth program is ready for a big garden. "Volunteers have to think creatively and use whatever resources they have readily available," says Kelsey Wulf, coordinator for Extension Master Gardener programs in Otter Tail County. "Once people see the positive effects of even a small garden, support for the program will grow."

Here are a few starter ideas Wulf has seen Master Gardener volunteers try with success:

Tomatoes and peppers grown in coffee cans for salsa

Seed-starting lesson providing plants kids can grow in a home or community garden

Perennial flowers planted along a peaceful schoolyard pathway

Building bug hotels to learn about beneficial insects

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University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener volunteers are trained in horticulture by the University of Minnesota so they can help communities solve problems. They work at the local level to provide schools with the know-how to design, maintain and teach in a schoolyard garden.

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This School Gardening Campaign in the UK has many useful resources - Daniela Silva-Rodriguez

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This School Gardening Campaign in the UK has many useful resources - Daniela Silva-Rodriguez

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home / RHS Campaign for School Gardening

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Inspiration and support from the RHS for schools, providing children with gardening opportunities to enhance their skills and boost their development.

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i know this was already mentioned but i LOVED this site! i feel it had all the benefits of early childhood development in regards to gardening -shelby

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i know this was already mentioned but i LOVED this site! i feel it had all the benefits of early childhood development in regards to gardening -shelby

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Children can learn new skills, have fun, play and develop self-confidence by spending time in the garden tending plants and growing their own food. Most children enjoy being outdoors and love digging in the soil, getting dirty, creating things and watching plants grow.

Children learn from growing things

People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but children in particular will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including:

Responsibility- from caring for plants

Understanding- as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants)

Self-confidence - from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown

Love of nature - a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place

Reasoning and discovery - learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment, nutrition and simple construction

Physical activity - doing something fun and productive

Cooperation- including shared play activity and teamwork

Creativity- finding new and exciting ways to grow food

Nutrition - learning about where fresh food comes from.

Getting children interested in gardening

Some suggestions to get children involved and interested in creating a garden include:

Keep it simple.

Give children their own garden space. (This does not have to be big. You can start with a large container or a few pots.)

Involve older children in the planning and design of the garden.

Use lightweight, easy-to-handle, correct-sized tools and garden equipment.

Encourage children to dig in the dirt. (Younger children love making mud pies)

Grow interesting plants such as sunflowers, corn, pumpkins, tomatoes and strawberries.

Use a trellis or teepee to grow beans or sweet peas.

Plant flowers that attract butterflies, ladybirds and other interesting insects or birds.

Make a scarecrow.

Install a water feature, a birdbath or a sundial.

Set up a worm farm.

Visit community gardens, children's farms or botanic gardens for ideas.

Child safety in the garden

To make the garden safe for children:

Select the correct-sized tool.

Keep sprays and fertilisers out of reach.

Do not use chemicals. Garden organically whenever possible.

Provide safe storage for equipment and tools.

Secure fences and gates.

Provide shade in summer with umbrellas or shade cloth.

Make sure that where it's appropriate, children wear a hat, sunscreen, suitable clothing and gumboots.

Do not leave buckets of water unattended around very young children and toddlers.

Plant selection for children

Children like large, brightly coloured flowers and vegetables that grow quickly. Plants such as sunflowers, corn and pumpkins are good examples.

You should also consider using varieties of plants that have sensory and textural qualities as well. Examples of great sensory plants include:

Touch - woolly lamb's ear, succulents (such as aloe vera), bottlebrush species, snapdragons

Taste - basil, strawberries, peas, rosemary, carrots, cherry tomatoes

Smell - jasmine, sweet peas, lavender, pelargoniums, native mint bush, lemon balm

Bright colour - daffodils, rainbow chard, marigolds, pansies, sunflowers

Sound - corn, bamboo and grasses rustle against each other when the wind blows.

Different-aged children in the garden

Toddlers, preschoolers, primary-school-aged and older children will all have different expectations and will learn different things in the garden.

Younger children will require careful supervision during activities. Suitable tasks for younger children include watering plants, harvesting produce and planting seeds. Older children are physically capable of handling a greater variety of activities, like digging, carrying, planting, mulching and pruning.

Activities for a child in the garden

Choose activities that suit the child's age. Suggestions include:

Watering the garden

Digging

Picking flowers

Planting vegetables, fruits and flowers in the correct season

Feeding the worms and using the 'worm tea' from the worm farm as fertiliser

Picking vegetables and fruits when they are ready to eat

Preparing healthy food, such as making salads and preparing school lunches

Craft activities using harvested seeds, plants and flowers

Composting, recycling and mulching

Weeding

Gathering seeds and dried flowers

Deadheading flowers

Preparing the soil with organic fertiliser

Replanting and re-potting.

Where to get help

Community or local garden groups

Cultivating Community Tel. (03) 9429 3084

Horticultural Therapy Association of Victoria Tel. (03) 9836 1128

Things to remember

Gardening is a healthy, fun activity for children.

Children develop new skills and learn about science and nature from growing their own food.

There is a variety of interesting activities children can be involved in, such as planting, mulching, weeding and cooking.

Make sure that your garden is a safe place, with suitable equipment, tools, fences, gates and paths for children to use.

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Children can learn new skills, have fun and develop self-confidence when they grow their own plants.

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We talk about the food we can grow, but there's also all the plants and trees we see on our walks through our community. This has lists of plants, trees, grasses, etc. Also sections that include what plants to use for butterfly gardens, what plants are native to our state of Wisconsin, etc. It's a great resource to gather information to use with your students.

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American goldfinch on native sunflower.

Native plants support the entire food web by providing food for insects, birds, bats, small mammals and other wildlife. This is particularly important now that scientists are documenting global declines in insect populations. Used in a rain garden, native plants help minimize flooding and filter out pollutants. The variety of colors, shapes and sizes adds beauty to any property. Get started with the resources below.

Planting basics

Get started today. Photo Credit: Urban Ecology Center

Buy native plants

Native Plant Sales

Native Landscaping Webinars

Garden Tour Videos

Clusters of fruits on American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) attract many bird species in late summer, such as this Philadelphia vireo.

Take a garden tour with DNR conservation biologist Amy Staffen as she showcases her native plants and provides a few tips and tricks for maximizing your yard for Wisconsin wildlife.

Ecosystem restoration

For broader-scale projects, please see the resources below to help with your project.

Dig deeper

Interested in more help with creating habitat for animals? Try these other resources.

Stay connected and sign-up to receive email updates

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Native plants support the entire food web by providing food for insects, birds, bats, small mammals and other wildlife. This is particularly important now that scientists are documenting global declines in insect populations. Used in a rain garden, native plants help minimize flooding and filter out pollutants.

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Because gardening is part of our nature based programming we find this website essential to our gardening as well.
-Macy

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Join us as we welcome spring in the beautiful Cherokee National Forest. This 48 hour respite offers kindling for your good work as a forest school enthusiast-- quiet time in nature, relevant conversations with thought leaders, communion with kindred spirits, site visits to dynamic forest schools, and hands-on workshops designed to spark imaginations. The flow of the retreat centers around choice. You can be still when you like and you can join in the offerings when you like. Topics include: naturalist studies with children, personal journaling, yoga practices with nature, forest school ethos in practice, basket weaving, nature hikes, campfire songs, creating place-based experiences, Shinrin Yoku, and even learning about the forgotten...

East Coast Outdoor Conference for Early Childhood Educators, Teachers, Counselors, Parents and Mentors April 1-2, 2023 Earthaven Ecovillage Near Asheville, NC With this year's theme, Fields of Play, presenters Lia Grippo and Sharon Buczaczer will immerse participants in deep learning, joyful singing and the freedom of play in the spirit of the young child and young at heart. This annual conference is a program of Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers, co-sponsored by School of Integrated Living (SOIL). Begin your weekend on Friday evening with a storytelling concert with conference favorite, Doug Elliott. Reaching Nature Connection is an annual outdoor conference based on forest schools, wilderness awareness, and early...

Our (free!) Spring Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshops are now live and ready for registration, offered in partnership with 70+ partner organizations! Sign-up: https://outdoorlearningstore.com/workshops There is something for every educator at these 60min virtual workshops featuring a diversity of presenters and topics. In addition to ideas...

Reaching Nature Connection invites you to join in an exciting weekend of hands-on, research-based, and anecdotal learning. As always, the conference will be infused with songs, games, stories, and deeper nature connection. Reaching Nature Connection is an annual, outdoor conference based on forest schools, wilderness awareness and early childhood education. Participants will be linked to a diverse group of outdoor educators. This conference is designed for beginners and experienced educators alike, as well as therapists, administrators, homeschool families, camp counselors, and parents. Reaching Nature Connection provides an opportunity to set your watch aside and allow the leaders of the conference to hold time for you. The rhythm...

The staff of Woodsong Forest School would like to invite you to Wholly Wild 2023! Wholly Wild is an invitation to an embodied, experiential retreat that is designed to transform the inner landscape of the teacher. It is a holistic, nature-based retreat for the nourishment of the hearts, minds, and bodies of those who work with children. We invite you to join us at Johnston Woods Retreat Center (the home of Woodsong) in the beautiful foothills of southeast Appalachia, for this inspirational time together. www.whollywild.org,
Johnston Woods Retreat Center, 298 Brymer Creek Rd.
[email protected] The art of teaching flows from the inner landscape of the teacher. The greatest gift we can offer students, and the most transformational learning tool, is a healthy, whole,...

Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers offers high quality, experiential, in-depth training and certification for current and up and coming early childhood educators dedicated to connecting children with Nature. In order to build a strong foundation in developmentally appropriate practices, deep nature connection and naturalist skills, we provide an active, engaging, and transformational curriculum. The Academy's comprehensive teacher training program provides our students with the theoretical, practical skills, knowledge, and magic to become exceptional educators and mentors in the field. Forest Kindergarten Teacher Training 2023 takes place completely outdoors in Santa Barbara, California. July 10-21, 2023 / Level 1 July 31 -...

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Join us as we welcome spring in the beautiful Cherokee National Forest. This 48 hour respite offers kindling for your good work as a forest school enthusiast-- quiet time in nature, relevant conversations with thought leaders, communion with kindred spirits, site visits to dynamic forest schools, and hands-on workshops designed to spark imaginations.

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There are videos on how to start a garden school and some other resources have popped onto here from time to time. There are some good tips on how to get started, budget and more.
- Veronica

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A Garden for Every School is a free video training program developed by Keep Iowa Beautiful.

The program walks schools through every step in the school garden planning process. This program's content comes directly from the mouths of school garden coordinators, principals, parents, students, and organizations supporting school gardens. By combining honest input from real-world experts, A Garden for Every School helps navigate the challenges, funding, and time-saving solutions of starting a school garden.
Please see below for the Garden for Every School videos - a valuable tool for communities to use. Contact Keep Iowa Beautiful for more information.
A Garden in Every School Videos

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A Garden for Every School - Keep Iowa Beautiful

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The program walks schools through every step in the school garden planning process. This program's content comes directly from the mouths of school garden coordinators, principals, parents, students, and organizations supporting school gardens. By combining honest input from real-world experts, A Garden for Every School helps navigate the challenges, funding, and time-saving solutions of starting a school garden.

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Lovely site with a plethora of information and resources. One of my favorites is the garden movement activity download - sweet songs to learn and share. Also have enjoyed the 'What's in Our Library' booklist. Happy spring!
~ Grace H

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City Blossoms has been co-designing and building kid and youth driven outdoor classrooms for over 10 years with students, parents, educators, and neighbors. This free pdf presents what types of questions you should ask yourself and your team when outlining a new garden project.

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An awesome WI Farm to ECE resource to have in your pocket.

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An awesome WI Farm to ECE resource to have in your pocket.

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Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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Picture Source: National Farm to School Network farmtoschool.org

What is Farm to Early Care and Education?

Farm to early care and education (Farm to ECE) is a natural extension of farm to school that offers increased access to healthy, local foods, gardening opportunities and food-based activities to enhance the quality of the educational experience in all types of ECE settings (e.g., preschools, child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start/Early Head Start, programs in K-12 school districts).

Farm to ECE activities are a natural fit for the 0-5 age group and offer extensive benefits in these young years. Children are developing taste preferences and eating habits that will impact their health for a lifetime. Farm to ECE activities not only integrate seamlessly with the learning style of young children, but are also an evidenced-based approach to meeting educational standards and improving the quality of ECE environments. In addition to promoting health, wellness and high quality educational opportunities in ECE settings, Farm to ECE expands healthy food access and family engagement, provides additional market opportunities for farmers and supports thriving communities. Farm to ECE is truly a win for kids, families, farmers and communities. National Farm to School Network

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Picture Source: National Farm to School Network farmtoschool.org What is Farm to Early Care and Education? Farm to early care and education (Farm to ECE) is a natural extension of farm to school that offers increased access to healthy, local foods, gardening opportunities and food-based activities to enhance the quality of the educational experience in all types of ECE settings (e.g., preschools, child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start/Early Head Start, programs in K-12 school districts).

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Posted On February 27, 2023

Perennial PartnersWhen we think of perennial plants we often think of plants that keep giving; plants with recurrent growth rather than annuals who give beautifully once. Both types of plants are wonderful for the ways they serve our growing spaces. We know...

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Posted On February 27, 2023 Perennial PartnersWhen we think of perennial plants we often think of plants that keep giving; plants with recurrent growth rather than annuals who give beautifully once. Both types of plants are wonderful for the ways they serve our growing spaces. We know...

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I'm so glad to have you visit! If you are looking for help gardening in a challenging cold or short-season climate, you've come to the right place! Gardening in a cold climate isn't more difficult than growing in other climates, as long as you grow plants suited to the climate and the soil. We've got pages of information-check out the menus above, browse the archives, or take advantage of the search box in the sidebar to the right. I'm Kathy Purdy, and I do most of the writing here, and we also have some excellent guest authors. We'd love to hear from you in the comments or the contact page.

The weather's been crazy, to put it mildly. With this second, post-Christmas thaw the snow is mostly gone. Monday it almost reached 50°F and it wasn't raining, so I decided to walk around the garden and check on things.

A good garden is a wholly unnatural environment run wholly in tune with the natural world and should be celebrated as such.
in The Complete Gardener pp. 124

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I'm so glad to have you visit! If you are looking for help gardening in a challenging cold or short-season climate, you've come to the right place! Gardening in a cold climate isn't more difficult than growing in other climates, as long as you grow plants suited to the climate and the soil.

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So many useful tips and gardening ideas!

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KidsGardening supports the educators and caregivers bringing the life-changing benefits of gardening to kids.

We support educators and families with grant funding, original educational resources, inspiration, and community to get more kids learning through the garden.

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We create opportunities for kids to learn and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder. Helping young minds grow!

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I liked the Natural Learning Initiative resource because it had a wide variety of info sheets and leaflets on a variety of topics. Benefits of engaging children, gross motor skill options, growing edibles, and the fun yet useful idea of making a Teepee covered in vines.  I copies several of these and will be coming back to them as I write up my presentation for me to address the board on why we need more space for a learning area and a garden.

Carol O
Mpls., MN

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Gardening with Kids: How It Affects Your Child's Brain, Body and Soul | Parenting Tips & Advice | PBS KIDS for Parents.

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https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/gardening-with-kids-how-it-affects-your-childs-brain-body-and-soul

Bonnie Lueck

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Gardening with Kids: How It Affects Your Child's Brain, Body and Soul | Parenting Tips & Advice | PBS KIDS for Parents

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Planting a garden can affect not only your child's body but also their brain and soul.

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I know that this is already mentioned but we have been getting AMAZING info for years!

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This is my go to favorite site for info and ideas.
Dina

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KidsGardening supports the educators and caregivers bringing the life-changing benefits of gardening to kids.

We support educators and families with grant funding, original educational resources, inspiration, and community to get more kids learning through the garden.

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KidsGardening supports the educators and caregivers bringing the life-changing benefits of gardening to kids. We support educators and families with grant funding, original educational resources, inspiration, and community to get more kids learning through the garden.

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A Hawai'i-centric org called, "Kokua Hawai'i Foundation"

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A Hawai'i-centric org called, "Kokua Hawai'i Foundation"

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There are a number of resources linked up on their various pages and they offer a lot of funding and PD opportunities.

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ʻĀINA In Schools is a farm to school initiative that connects children
to their local land, waters, and food to grow a healthier Hawaiʻi.
ʻĀINA In Schools began in 2006, and focuses on:

* Addressing childhood health issues by fostering healthy eating habits;

* Encouraging environmental stewardship by connecting children to the land & water that sustains them;

* Contributing to a healthy local food system by supporting Hawaiʻi's farmers and their produce.
View Program Overview

'ĀINA in Schools is comprised of
Six Integrated Components

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ʻĀINA In Schools : Kokua Hawaii Foundation

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ʻĀINA In Schools is a farm to school initiative that connects children to their local land, waters, and food to grow a healthier Hawaiʻi. ʻĀINA In Schools began in 2006, and focuses on: * Addressing childhood health issues by fostering healthy eating habits; * Encouraging environmental stewardship by connecting children to the land & water that sustains them; * Contributing to a healthy local food system by supporting Hawaiʻi's farmers and their produce.

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We LOVE kids Gardening!  we have subscribed for years!

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We LOVE kids Gardening!  we have subscribed for years!

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This has already been posted but second it!  Also check out www.monarchwatch.org to learn how to create waystations for these impressive creatures.
- Jean

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We create opportunities for kids to learn and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder. Helping young minds grow!

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The state of Oregon has several regional school garden hubs. Our local hub provides training, free resources, a newsletter and an opportunity to network with other school gardeners. Through our school garden hub, I recently had 5 cubic yards of compost delivered for free from our waste management company. Hooray! See if your state has school gardens hubs that you can connect with.

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During the January 2014 School Garden Summit in West Salem, it was suggested by a School Garden Coordinator that area school gardens would feel more connected and be able to get more support if they were a member of a local support group.

So, our first pilot regional school garden hub was formed in the Albany area. This pilot group has met approximately every other month, and embarked on many projects as a team: Support of each other's gardens, toured other gardens in the State, a very successful School Board presentation that resulted in growing four gardens the next month, and planning a "back to school" open house event at their gardens where they invited the local media, Mayor, and their School Board.

In 2018, the Oregon Farm to School Network expanded the Hub model to include Procurement Hubs (focused on incorporating more local food in school meals) and Education Hubs (focused on both farm and school garden-based education).

If your area is interested in forming a School Garden Hub, please contact Rick Sherman at Rick Sherman. He would love to help you get started and plan your first meeting! For more information about OFSSGN's Regional Procurement and Education Hubs contact Melina Barker.

Listing of Regional Hubs

You can find Regional Hub leads and contact information through an interactive map on the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network website.

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During the January 2014 School Garden Summit in West Salem, it was suggested by a School Garden Coordinator that area school gardens would feel more connected and be able to get more support if they were a member of a local support group. So, our first pilot regional school garden hub was formed in the Albany area.

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This is a write up of a garden project a classroom completed, it's so neat! I love the idea of making a garden in the block area :) -Lea Larsen

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This is a link to two different activity guides with 200+ school yard lessons that can be done year round.

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Free Schoolyard Activity Guides

Green Schoolyards America and the International School Grounds Alliance collaborate to produce a set of free, digital schoolyard Activity Guides, designed to provide a wide range of outdoor activity ideas for schools that work with children between the ages of 3 and 18 years old. We hope our Activity Guides will encourage schools across the United States, and around the world, to take their students outside during the month of May -and throughout the year - to celebrate their grounds and use them to their fullest.

There are two collaboratively written books in the 2018 edition of this set, and they follow the same format. Each book includes dozens of activity ideas written by our colleagues at other organizations, and each is updated every year or two with additional ideas so the collection grows over time.

Green Schoolyards America's Living Schoolyard Activity Guide - United States Edition now includes 131 ideas for year-round school ground activities, written by 122 organizations from across the United States.

The International School Grounds Month Activity Guideincludes an additional 104 ideas for use outdoors in May, written by 73 organizations from 27 countries. It is published by the International School Grounds Alliance (ISGA) and was produced and edited by Green Schoolyards America in collaboration with our ISGA colleagues.
In December 2019, we created a short companion publication called Experiential Outdoor Learning in the Schoolyard, with 13 additional outdoor activities written by renowned educator, Susan Humphries.
All of the activities in these Guides cover a wide range of ideas that support learning across the curriculum, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage play and exploration during children's free time, before, during and after school. Many of the activities also focus on ways to help children and youth understand the places they live, and connect to their neighborhood's unique natural, geographic, and cultural context.

We hope these ideas will inspire you and help you get started dreaming up outdoor activities for your own local school, wherever you live. All of the activities are intended for use anywhere in the world, so be sure to download all of the free books and share them with your friends and colleagues!

After you try the ideas in these books, please tell us about your schoolyard adventures. We look forward to hearing from you!

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schoolyard activities - Green Schoolyards America

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Green Schoolyards America and the International School Grounds Alliance collaborate to produce a set of free, digital schoolyard Activity Guides, designed to provide a wide range of outdoor activity ideas for schools that work with children between the ages of 3 and 18 years old.

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KidsGardening supports the educators and caregivers bringing the life-changing benefits of gardening to kids.

We support educators and families with grant funding, original educational resources, inspiration, and community to get more kids learning through the garden.

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We create opportunities for kids to learn and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder. Helping young minds grow!

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https://www.montessorinature.com/importance-benefits-gardening-children-toddlers-preschoolers/

This site has a plethora of information as to the how's and why's of gardening with little people. So engaging and offers for free printable! -Karen Endthoff

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However, that is not even remotely true. You see, studies have shown that there are many benefits of introducing gardening to kids at age toddlers to preschoolers. Through garden play, children acquire and improve crucial skills, have fun, and develop self-confidence all the while enjoying a nature-friendly childhood in the Montessori way.

But, how exactly does gardening help a child's development?

What do you learn from gardening?

Free Printable - Animal Homes
Sign up to receive updates on our latest posts and printables, as well as these picture cards that are designed to help your little ones learn about the fascinating world of animals and their habitats.

Well in this article, at MontessoriNature.com we will go over just that.

Skills learned from gardening engage all senses

A garden can be an interactive playground for kids that will engage all of their senses. It's where they can touch and feel the fruits of their labor, fancy the brightly colored flowers, grow accustomed to natural scents, and the sound of rustling shrubs. Of course, you can do indoor gardening with children, too.

To involve all the senses will feed both curiosity and passion in toddlers and thus, the love for gardening and the science behind it, says Gena Lorraine, a fantastic gardening & horticulturist expert. It is at an early age when parents should nourish these activities the most, she added.

But what are the skills children learn from nature and how does gardening help a child's development?

Reliability and responsibility when it comes to taking care of a plant day after day;

Self-confidence: nothing is more rewarding than the fruits of our own labour;

Learning cause and effect - do good, not bad;

Curiosity in species, growing tips, Botanics and more;

Physical activity: gardening makes you move a lot;

Exploring texture: Gaining insight on density, weight, malleability, permeability, and more;

Growing the love of nature: putting love in what they grow;

Teamwork: friends or family;

Math: counting days, measuring nutrition, light exposure and more;

Creativity: crafting own landscape designs or painting a pair of wellies.

When gardening with your kids, try growing plants that possess sensory and textural qualities. Here are a few good examples of sensory plants suitable for kindergarten gardening.

Touch - Houseleek, Jerusalem sage, Lamb's ears and Snapdragons can teach your children the different textures plants have;

Taste - Strawberries, Chives, Rosemary and Cherry tomatoes are just a few of many healthy and tasty treats, simple to grow for children to enjoy (especially when eaten, of course);

Smell - Lavender, Chocolate cosmos, Jasmine and Lemon balm give off heady fragrances;

Sound - Greater quaking-grass, Sweet corn and Bamboo rustle when the wind blows;

Sight - Spider flowers, Sulfur Cosmos, Chameleon plant and Sunflowers are great as they're colourful and visually appealing.

Gardening encourages children to eat healthier.

It's no secret that fruits and vegetables taste better when you grow them yourself. This holds true for children too.

Getting toddlers or preschoolers involved in gardening allows them to experience plant care and nourish a responsible, consistent and positive attitude towards hard work.

For self-grown fruits and veggies children will take great pride, you can rest assured.

Before you can think of it, they will be eating tomatoes, spinach, and even celery! By explaining the importance of gardening from an early age, healthy eating will become a day-to-day habit shaping the foundations of any young mind.

Gardening enhances fine motor development

It goes without saying that gardening and fine motor skills go hand in hand. While in the garden, children are constantly practicing their locomotor skills without thinking about it. In the garden, children have to move around a lot to tackle tasks like watering, fertilizing, pruning, mounting plant stakes, digging, weeding, bending, and gathering, organizing, and storing seeds.

This is how gardening allows children to develop a proactive and healthy routine in life.

Gardening introduces children to science

Using gardening as a way to teach children science is a fairly new and unique approach but considerably rewarding. Not only do young ones become a part of the learning process, but they acquire practical knowledge not found in textbooks.

Here are some examples of sciences that can be taught in the garden :

Botany - through the interaction with plants and dissection of seeds;

Chemistry - through composting;

Math - through the planting and management of seeds;

Meteorology - monitoring the weather and its effects on the garden.

Gardening reduces both the level and effect of stress

Gardening can be a huge stress reliever for children as it teaches how to relax, calm down and control emotions. Spending time in nature, amongst flowers and trees has been proven to make both children and the elderly feel happier.

According to many studies, working out in the garden for just 30 minutes a day reduces the levels of the stress hormone cortisol significantly. Therefore, gardening is a perfect activity to introduce your children to, as it keeps the stress away.

Gardening teaches young one's patience, improves focus, and enhances memory, too

Nowadays, children have an ever-shorter attention span mainly because of the immediate gratification that our digital age provides.

A great way to teach children patience and also improve their focus is through regular garden care.

To achieve that you need to be patient and let children make mistakes to learn from;

Give children their own space and actively encourage them to take responsibility for the plants they sow, this, in turn, will instil in them gratification when their plants progress;

It's recommendable to start with sowing fast growers as that way kids can witness the fruits of their labour over the course of just a few weeks and won't lose interest;

The constant involvement of children in the gardening process improves alertness, memory and even cognitive abilities, thanks to math and repetition.

Gardening teaches children the responsibility of preserving the environment

Helping kids get into the habit of caring for seeds and plants they've sown can instill a great sense of responsibility. Be sure to prepare and follow a checklist of daily, weekly and monthly chores. Аlso, monitor your child's gardening progress and do your best to help them when needed, without interfering too much. This is how gardening develops children, by teaching them that good things take time and effort.

Gardening nourishes self-confidence

Confidence is crucial for the healthy development of any child. It might come as no surprise but gardening helps children feel more capable. Looking after a plant, from sowing until bloom, and seeing their hard work pay off can substantially boost a child's sense of competence.

When it comes to childcare, the benefits of delayed gratitude take long to teach but at the end of the day, are absolutely worth it.

Gardening with toddlers bonds the family

It should be present in every household. To set up you don't need to have a huge backyard, not really. A few pots on the balcony are absolutely sufficient. The time families spend in the garden helps strengthen their bonds to create multiple and meaningful memories. As children learn they set solid grounds fоr great adulthood or something. What they like and what they don't. What is wrong and what is right.

Altogether, gardening in childcare is an interesting, educational, healthy, and social activity that every child deserves. Although growing a garden as a regular activity can take a while, the payoff is more than worth it!

botany resources you might find helpful in your classroom

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The Importance and Benefits of Teaching Gardening to Children Toddlers to Preschoolers

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What are the skills children learn from nature and how does gardening help a child's development? Learn more here.

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lots of ideas for planning your garden

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Tend your garden like a pro with help from our expert writers and Master Gardeners. Learn how to do everyday tasks, pick out the best plants, and everything in between.

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Design information, infosheets and leaflets, plus the Natural Learning at Home newsletter, which is available in English and Spanish. Contributed by Catherine Hansen

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This website has a ton of different resources, activities and lessons based on teaching in your school's garden. The activities are divided by age groups which makes it easy for you to find age-appropriate lessons. -Carrie Cichon

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Teaching in your school garden? Let's make it easy!
Teaching in your school garden is not only fun, but it is also a great way to bring core academic subjects to life! Below we have resources, lessons, and activities to help you successfully integrate your school garden into your classroom.
Remember, you don't need to be a garden expert, or even on your school's Garden Team, to teach in your school garden!
Classroom Basics:
Confidently bring students outside to your school garden.
Curriculum Connections and Inspirational Resources:
Classroom Activities and Lessons:
Introduce your school garden and deepen knowledge using these activities and lessons.
For more information on our curriculum offerings, click here.
Classroom Tasting & Eating:
Bring your school garden full circle by preparing tasty, simple, and healthy recipes.
For more information on tasting & eating from your school garden, click here.

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Teaching in your school garden? Let's make it easy! Teaching in your school garden is not only fun, but it is also a great way to bring core academic subjects to life! Below we have resources, lessons, and activities to help you successfully integrate your school garden into your classroom.

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submitted by Jaime Rombalski

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Early Childhood Education Lessons and Activities

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Early childhood education gardening books and lesson plans for preschoolers. Plus, lists of gardening picture books for preschoolers!

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Most nutrition assistance programs funded by FNS are administered at the state, territory, tribal, or local levels. Select your state, territory, or tribal organization from the dropdowns below to find contact information

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USDA Food and Nutrition Service | Food and Nutrition Service

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Most nutrition assistance programs funded by FNS are administered at the state, territory, tribal, or local levels. Select your state, territory, or tribal organization from the dropdowns below to find contact information

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The FoodCorps Lessons, for children in grades K-5, include hands-on experiential activities to engage kids in learning about healthy food.
-Erica, erica@rootedwi.org

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The FoodCorps Lessons include hands-on experiential activities to engage kids in learning about healthy food. This suite of 96 lessons are for grades K-5, and are organized through this learning progression by grade, season and theme. The lessons are tied to national academic standards and were developed following Culturally Responsive Teaching, Place Based Learning and Social and Emotional Learning best practices and frameworks. Each lesson was developed with input from FoodCorps service members, community partners and resource specialists, and have been evaluated and updated to reflect recommendations from our community of food educators. This suite of lessons is intended to guide food and garden educators to spark inquiry and love for healthy food and should be adapted to reflect the needs, identity and culture of the community in which they are taught.

The lessons are evidence based and have been developed guided by the FoodCorps Healthy School Progress Report Practices found in the Healthy School Toolkit.

FoodCorps Lesson Progression

This FoodCorps Lesson Progression poster is a roadmap to illuminate the theory behind the sequencing of the ninety-six FoodCorps lessons. It shows how these lessons relate to and build upon one another to support students in developing increasingly sophisticated knowledge of and skills in the six themes listed below.

The lessons are organized by the following 6 themes to provide a framework to identify the central topic for each lesson.

Conceptual Themes to build student knowledge:

Skills-focused themes to develop student skills in gardening, cooking, and accessing healthy foods:

View the FoodCorps Lesson Progression Poster here.

Videos of FoodCorps Lessons

Service members have recorded over 100 video lessons to support students with remote learning about healthy food and gardening. Many of these lessons include activities from FoodCorps Lessons. You can view them here!

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The FoodCorps Lessons include hands-on experiential activities to engage kids in learning about healthy food. This suite of 96 lessons are for grades K-5, and are organized through this learning progression by grade, season and theme. The lessons are tied to national academic standards and were developed following Culturally Responsive Teaching, Place Based Learning and Social and Emotional Learning best practices and frameworks.