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School Garden Curricula

Oregon School Garden Curricula

The criteria for inclusion on this list are as follows:

  • The materials are available for free in a widely accessible format
  • The materials are specific to Oregon
  • The materials are place-based and tied to academic content standards where appropriate
  • Materials are listed in approximate order by target audience age.

Harvest for Healthy Kids

Age group: Pre-Kindergarten

Academic standards: Aligned with early learning standards.

Structure: The program connects young children with fresh food grown close to home through activity kits that teach science, math and literacy. Thirteen activity kits focus on a different fruit or vegetable, each with an activity plan, picture cards, recipes, teacher newsletter, and family newsletters in Spanish, Russian and English.

OSU Extension Growing Healthy Kids Curriculum (Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education)

Age group: 2nd and 3rd grade

Standards: Supports Common Core Standards for 2nd and 3rd grade.

Structure: Seven lessons, each focused on integrating nutrition education into gardening activities. Lessons include recipes to make in the classroom and materials to take home to engage families. In 2020, with many children learning from home, Oregon State University created a GHK Virtual Toolkit for elementary school teachers in distance or hybrid learning settings and for parents and other caregivers teaching elementary school-age children at home. The Virtual Toolkit brings pieces of the full GHK Curriculum alive digitally, including by providing an engaging interactive tour of each lesson. It also includes new resources targeted to virtual learners.

Eat.Think.Grow

Age group: Grades K-5

Academic Standards: Variable tied to both Oregon State and Common Core Standards.

Structure: Comprehensive three seasons thematic units with three to six lessons per season. Lessons build on one another from year to year creating a cumulative curriculum for the length of a student’s elementary school experience.

Contact Linda Colwell

Science in the Learning Gardens: NGSS-aligned, Garden-based Curriculum for Middle School (Portland State University); National Science Foundation Award: 2014-2017

Science in the Learning Gardens (SciLG) is an NGSS-aligned, garden-based curriculum for the middle-school level, and a key component of a longitudinal research project (see research section below). SciLG makes issues such as climate change and sustainable food systems relevant, accessible, and engaging through hands-on experience with problem-solving and inquiry. SciLG was developed and piloted at two low-income middle schools that serve predominantly racial and ethnic minority students in Portland, Oregon. Curriculum materials (instructional units and garden-based lessons) aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards for 6th through 8th grade are under development and will be available to share in 2017 at Learning Garden's website.

PI: Dilafruz Williams: Contact: Dilafruz Williams; Co-PIs: Sybil Kelley: Contact: Sybil Kelley, Cary Sneider, Ellen Skinner

Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom

Age group: Grades K-12

Standards: Variable tied to Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards

Structure: Expansive collection of downloadable, stand-alone lesson plans and worksheets on hands-on activities as varied as Busy Bees and Living Necklaces to Worm Bins and Water filtration. Free lending library with activity kits and resources for lessons in the school garden.

Oregon State University: Food for Thought

Age Group: High School

Standards: Variable tied to Oregon State Standards

Structure: Twenty free lessons that incorporate reading comprehension and hands-on activities for science, social studies, and language arts. This high school curriculum explores the research that brings food to the table in an Oregon-style feast, from seafood and beef to berries. In addition, the curriculum examines food-related concerns, such as hunger in Oregon, food safety, GMOs, and nutrition education.

Ag in the Classroom Searchable Curriculum Matrix

Curricula Matrix

The National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix is an online, searchable, and standards-based curriculum map for K-12 teachers. The Matrix contextualizes national education standards in science, social studies, and nutrition education with relevant instructional resources linked to Common Core Standards. Search our instructional, classroom-ready resources now! After you find what you need, consider storing them in your personal binder.

Scholastic BLOOM Lessons and Activities about Horticulture

Lessons and activities about horticulture

Age group: grades 6-8

Academic standards: Science and ELA standards.

The Greenhouse

Curricula Search Engine

Age group: PK-12

The Greenhouse is your one stop shop for school garden activities & curriculum from Big Green, our partners, & beyond.

Growing Minds

Curricula Search Engine

Teaching resources focused on farm to school education, including lesson plans, activities.

Gardening With Children

Curricula Search Engine

Teaching resources, offering educational materials and tools to engage children in gardening activities.

More Resources

For even more curricular resources, visit the Oregon Farm to School Network's website for an extensive list of Pre-K through High School curricula.