Activities for Grades 3 - 5 Archives

Beets & Carrots:

Lessons and Activities

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

New Hampshire Harvest of the Month: Carrots

Harvest lessons provide a fun way for classrooms to explore, taste, and learn about carrots. Students will observe different carrot varieties and conduct a taste test. They will also learn about the history of carrots and experiment with sprouting a carrot.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3,4	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1	RL.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	3.3.7 3.10.1	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Vermont Harvest of the Month: Beets & Rutabaga

Harvest lessons provide a fun way for classrooms to explore, taste, and learn about eating more fruits and vegetables. Included are lessons covering a variety of subjects including nutrition, measurement, graphing, dyeing paper with beet juice, structures of plants, and mapping the origins of beets and rutabaga.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3,4	3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	3.3.7 3.10.1	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Beets & Carrots:

Videos and Other Resources

GroVeg: Growing Carrots from Sowing to Harvest

A how-to video on growing carrots, from sowing to harvest. (6:20)

Leaves and Petals: Growing Beet Greens from Beet Tops

A short-time lapse video covering the growth of beet greens. (1:33)

Bring Back the Farm: Farm to Fork Time-Lapse of Beets

A short-time lapse video covering the growth of beets. (2:06)

TESCO: Crunchy Carrots: from Farm to Fork

Watch this video to see the farm-to-fork journey of carrots, from ideal growing conditions to harvesting and production, ready for you to buy in the shops. (3:49)

True Food TV: Purple Carrots or Orange: Who’s the Daddy?

Short video on the origin of the different-colored carrots. (1:08)

How to Grow Carrot Tops

A short-time lapse video covering the growth of carrot tops. (6:39)

Growing Beet Greens from Beet Tops: Time-Lapse

A short-time lapse video covering the growth of beet greens. (1:33)

Farm to Fork Time-Lapse of Beets

A short-time lapse video covering the growth of beets. (2:06)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Carrot Brochure

Brochure containing carrot facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Carrot Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Iowa Department of Public Health: Pick a Better Snack Fact Sheets – Carrots

This site has a colorful printable fact sheet on carrots.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Beet Brochure

Brochure containing beet facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Beet Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

California Harvest of the Month: Beet Botanical Image

This site includes a colorful diagram of the anatomy of a beet for student research.

World Carrot Museum

The first virtual museum in the world entirely devoted to the history, evolution, science, sociology, and art of the carrot. The mission is to educate, inform, and amuse visitors through the discovery, collection, preservation, interpretation, and exhibition of objects relating to the carrot. This site provides lots of interesting and useful information about the humble carrot. Students could create a carrot trivia game from the trivia page.

Beets & Carrots:

Books

The Magic Beet by Kiya Kahl (2020)

Clementine is quirky and sentimental. She loves gardening with her Grammy and has a deep connection to a ring that was given to her by her Grampy. While losing herself in all the beautiful colors of the garden, Clementine also loses her most prized possession. Despite her sadness, Clementine learns to be patient and to remain hopeful. One day, it all pays off when she harvests "THE MAGIC BEET."

Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson (2016)

This charming and lovingly illustrated children's book by acclaimed author Katy Hudson ("A Loud Winter's Nap" and "Bear and Duck") shows how friendships get us over the rough spots in life, even if the going gets a little bumpy. "Too Many Carrots" is the perfect springtime, Eastertime, and anytime gift.

Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens (1995)

Hare solves his family’s problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny, energetic version of an old slave story. With roots in American slave tales, "Tops & Bottoms" celebrates the trickster tradition of using one’s wits to overcome hardship.

book_cover_Tops_and_Bottoms_Janet_Stevens

Blueberries:

Lessons and Activities

National Ag in the Classroom: FoodMASTER Fruits

Students will identify fruits that grow on a tree, bush, or vine. They will also classify fruits as pome, drupe, berry, melon, or citrus. Expand this lesson by performing an experiment on the browning of fruit or learn how to dry plums to make prunes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1 5-PS1-4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Kids Gardening: Exploring Food Preservation

Students learn why and how fresh food can be preserved for later consumption. By exploring preservation methods, both ancient and modern, students can appreciate the climatic and survival challenges faced by people in different places and eras. This lesson includes a easy recipe for Triple Berry Freezer Jam to make in the classroom or at home.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	5-PS1-2,3,4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	4.3.1	7-E-3.3

Super Healthy Kids: Nutrition Education Game

A game that teaches students about the nutritional value in different-colored fruits and vegetables. Students create a healthy smoothie by rolling teacher-made dice. Each side is a different color, and with each roll of the dice students recite the fruits and vegetables found in those colors and the nutrients found in them. Then, students add two fruits or vegetables to the blender. For example, if the student rolls blue and red, the response could be: Blue foods help our brains; they are high in the nutrients anthocyanin and phenolics. Red foods are high in a nutrient called lycopene as well as anthocyanin and vitamins A and C; red foods are beneficial because they control high blood pressure, reduce the risk of cancer, and reduce the risks of losing your memory. Then, students may add a blueberry and a strawberry to their smoothie.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Kids Gardening: Eat a Rainbow

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Life Lab: Garden Pollinators

This third-grade curriculum includes 5 lessons on pollinators and their adaptations, including adaptation stations. Examining the diversity of pollinators in the garden and their role in the ecosystem provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the mechanisms of adaptation. The student sheets and other resources for these lessons are in the last section of this booklet. These lessons also address three fourth-grade standards.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-1 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-3 3-LS4-4 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 4-ESS2-3	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Upper Valley Farm to School Harvest Lessons: Berries

Harvest lessons provide a fun way for classrooms to explore, taste, and learn about eating more fruits and vegetables. Included are lessons covering a variety of subjects including geography, nutrition, reading and listening comprehension, measurement and graphing.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2	RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	3.3.7 3.10.1	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Blueberries:

Videos and Other Resources

Naturipe: Blueberry Harvesting Process

A virtual field trip to a blueberry orchard and processing plant. Students will see how blueberries are grown, harvested (by hand and machine), and processed. (2:52)

Eating Berries Every Day for a Week Will Do This to Your Body

This video discusses the benefits of eating berries, with nutritional and other facts about berries. (10:14)

WebMD: One-Food Wonder: Blueberries

A short video with nutritional information and other facts about blueberries. (0:50)

True Food TV: Blueberry | How Does It Grow?

Besides showing how the blueberry grows today, this video gives an excellent history of the blueberry. (10:47)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Blueberry Brochure

Brochure containing blueberry facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Blueberry Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

5 Superfoods That Actually Live Up to Their Hype

Everyone has heard that blueberries are one of the "super fruits." This informative article for teachers and students explains the five superfoods, including the blueberry.

How to Eat a Rainbow: 5 Shades of Nutrients

Informative article for teachers and students on what it means to “Eat a Rainbow.”

Medical News Today: Everything You Need to Know about Blueberries

Informative background information for teachers on blueberry facts and nutrition.

California Ag in the Classroom-Learn About Ag: Prolific Pollinators

This full-color PDF teaches students about pollinators, including pollinators that pollinate blueberry flowers.

Blueberries:

Books

Jamberry by Bruce Degen (1995)

This classic book features a berry-loving boy and an endearing rhyme-spouting bear. The fun wordplay and bright paintings with lots of details for young readers to explore make "Jamberry" a perennial favorite. A small boy and a big friendly bear embark on a berry-picking extravaganza, looking for blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Their fun adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a star-berry sky.

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (1948)

This classic children’s book tells the story of a mother and daughter blueberry picking, who encounter a mother bear and pair of cubs feasting on berries in the same patch. Sal’s mother tells her not to eat all the berries so they can store some for winter, but Sal has a hard time following that direction. The bears meanwhile are feasting before a long winter rest. In the story we learn that the mother bear tells her young to eat all they can before winter comes. Follow this story with discussion of storage of berries through the winter. How is the human family different from the bear family in its needs and in the ways of storing this precious food? Reading Level: K-4.

book_cover_Blueberries_For_Sal_Robert_McCloskey

Broccoli & Cauliflower:

Lessons and Activities

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Drexel University: Go for the Green!

In this lesson students will learn the importance of vegetables in their diet and their relationship to health. Then, they will prepare and taste a healthy snack.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom: Bring on the Brassica Veggies

Students will learn about Brassica vegetables through several activities, which include testing recipes using Brassica vegetables and determining their favorites. The provided readings will introduce students to the health benefits of various vegetables in the Brassica family and other facts such as the origin of different Brassica vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

California Harvest of the Month: Broccoli

This Harvest of the Month newsletter has activities that give students the opportunity to explore, taste, and learn about the importance of eating broccoli, as well as its origins and how it grows. The newsletter also includes activities that introduce students to phytochemicals and folate.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Vermont Harvest of the Month: Broccoli & Cauliflower

A collection of information and activities including taste tests, mapping the origin of broccoli, a true/false fact game, and a Brassica matching game.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.NF.A.1 3.G.A.2	3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program: Broccoli Worksheets

Student worksheets include a broccoli taste test guide, broccoli poetry, broccoli nutrition, and other activities.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Kids Gardening: Eat a Rainbow

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Broccoli & Cauliflower:

Videos and Other Resources

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Cauliflower Brochure

Brochure containing cauliflower facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Cauliflower Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Kaiser Permanente: How to Make a Healthy Plate

A healthy plate is an easy way to control portion sizes. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein, and one quarter with whole grains for a healthy eating plan. (2:45)

Iowa Ingredient: Growing Cauliflower

A how-to video for growing cauliflower, from seed to harvest. (4:16)

Upper Valley Farm to School Network – Harvesting Broccoli and Cauliflower

This video explains that the parts of broccoli and cauliflower plants that we eat are flower buds and stems and discusses the nutrients that these plants provide for us. (4:33)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Broccoli Brochure

Brochure containing broccoli facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Broccoli Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Learning About Broccoli

This is a short video demonstrating that we eat the flower buds of the broccoli plant. (1:07)

Bonnie Plants: How to Plant Broccoli Plants

A short informational video on how to plant broccoli and other cole crops. (1:14)

True Food TV: Foods That Are Actually EDIBLE FLOWERS

Even though we call them fruits and vegetables, everything from cauliflower to broccoli, artichoke to fig, are really their plants' flowers. (1:41)

True Food TV: Cauliflower | How Does It Grow?

This video discusses the origin of cauliflower, explains that a cauliflower is a bouquet of flowers, and takes you to a commercial farm to demonstrate how they grow cauliflower. (4:03)

Broccoli Pedigree | PBS

A short video vignette on why we have never stumbled across a wild broccoli. (1:58)

Broccoli & Cauliflower:

Books

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons (2008)

A fun and informative book all about vegetables, how they are grown, and which parts we eat. A great book to show kids the difference between “leaf” vegetables, “bulbs,” “flower buds,” and more. Different sections of the book could be read to highlight different themes: how vegetables grow, what parts of vegetables we eat, how to grow your own vegetable garden, and more.

book_cover_The_Vegetables_We_Eat_Gail_Gibbons

There’s Broccoli in my Ice Cream! By Emily MacKenzie (2017)

A story about a Dalmatian named Granville who likes to eat everything but fruits and vegetables. Ages: 5 and up.

book_cover_Theres_Broccoli_In_My_Ice_Cream_Emily_MacKenzie

The Boy Who Loved Broccoli by Sarah A. Creighton (2011)

This book tells the story of Baxter, a boy who likes to eat broccoli so much that he gets superpowers. Reading Level: Elementary.

book_cover_The_Boy_Who_Loved_Broccoli_Sarah_A_Creighton

Cabbage:

Lessons and Activities

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Center for Ecoliteracy: Investigating Cabbage Traditions

The versatile, tasty, and healthful cabbage has made its way into the hearts and onto the tables of people all over the world. As a cool-season crop, it thrives in cooler weather and is harvested in late fall through early spring, providing an important source of fresh greens during the winter months. In this lesson, students examine the cultural importance of cabbages, conduct a comparison tasting of different cabbages, and explore family food traditions involving cabbage.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS3-1 3-ESS2-2 4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.7 W.3.7 W.4.7 W.5.7	3.2.4 4.2.5 4.3.1	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Life Lab: Garden Habitats

This fourth-grade curriculum includes four lessons on food chains and garden habitats. Students will explore plant and animal habitats to learn more about the diversity of life in the garden. All activities would be appropriate for students in grades 3-5.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS4-1,2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Bonnie Plants: Food Miles

In this activity, students will track the food miles (distance from farm to plate) of many of the fruits and vegetables they eat. The goal of this lesson is to inform students of the benefits of eating self-grown or locally produced fruits and vegetables.

Food Miles Calculator — Food miles are a way of attempting to measure how far food has traveled before it reaches you, the consumer. It is a good way of looking at the environmental impact of foods and their ingredients.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.1,2 5.MD.A.1	3-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Bonnie Plants: How Does Your Cabbage Grow?

Learn to care for a cabbage plant from seedling to harvest. For 12 weeks students will conduct a scientific investigation by recording, analyzing, and interpreting measurement data from a cabbage plant. If the plants are nurtured and cared for, kids can cultivate and grow giant cabbages, some bigger than a basketball, often tipping the scales at over 40 pounds!

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3,4	3-LS1-1 3-ESS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 SL.3.1,2,3	3.10.1 4.4.4

Vermont’s Harvest of the Month: Cabbage

These harvest lessons are a fun way for students to explore, taste, and learn about cabbage. Students will learn about the origins, nutritional value, life cycle, adaptations, inherited traits, and predator/prey relations of cabbage. Also, students will learn how different cultures prepare cabbage with a taste test of cabbage dishes from different cultures. Students will measure the weight, mass, volume, density, and circumference of cabbages. They will learn about other members of the cabbage family with the Brassica Family Matching Game.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3,4 5.MD.C.3	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	4.2.5	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Cabbage

Activities for cabbage include lessons centered around circle time, meal time, and activity time along with fast and fun activities. Each kit includes an activity plan, family recipe, teacher bites, and a parent newsletter and picture cards available in both English and Spanish.

Cabbage Activity Plan

Cabbage Family Recipe

Cabbage Parent Newsletter - English

Cabbage Parent Newsletter - Spanish

Cabbage Picture Cards - English

Cabbage Picture Cards - Spanish

Cabbage Teacher Bites

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	4-LS1-1	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom: Bring on the Brassica Veggies

Students will learn about Brassica vegetables through several activities, which include testing recipes using Brassica vegetables and determining their favorites. The provided readings will introduce students to the health benefits of various vegetables in the Brassica family and other facts such as the origin of different Brassica vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Cabbage:

Videos and Other Resources

Growing Cabbages from Sowing to Harvests

A how-to video for growing cabbages from seed to harvest. (6:28)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Cabbage Brochure

Brochure containing cabbage facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Cabbage Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Cabbage:

Books

Katie’s Cabbage by Katie Stagliano and Michelle H. Martin (2014)

The true story of how Katie Stagliano, a third-grader from Summerville, South Carolina, grew a 40-pound cabbage in her backyard and donated it to help feed 275 people at a local soup kitchen. Ages: 7-11 years,

book_cover_Katies_Cabbage_Katie_Stagliano_Michelle_H_Martin

The Cabbage Soup Solution by Erika Oller (2004)

Someone is stealing cabbages from Elsie’s cabbage patch. With the aid of her two cats and some delicious homemade soup, Elsie befriends her cabbage thieves. Ages: 4-8 years.

book_cover_The_Cabbage_Soup_Solution_Erika_Oller

Catfish:

Books

Clarissa Catfish at the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum by Elaine A. Powers (2020)

Clarissa Catfish liked her new home at the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum, but she couldn’t see the exhibits or the children. How can a catfish travel around when she needs to stay in the water? Come inside to find out and join Clarissa as she explores the marvelous museum.

Citrus:

Lessons and Activities

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Weather STEM: Weather and Honey Bees

This is a 21-slide e-lesson on how weather affects honey bees. In this electronic resource students will learn the vital role honey bees play in pollination: through pollination, honey bees are responsible for nearly one-third of our food supply. Changes in temperature, rainfall, solar radiation, and the wind can have adverse impacts on honey bees and hive activity.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-3 3-LS4-4 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 4-ESS2-3 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Weather STEM: Weather and Citrus

This is a 20-slide e-lesson on how weather affects the citrus industry. In this lesson students will learn about citrus, the history of citrus in Florida (the largest producer of citrus), and how weather has played an important role in the Florida citrus industry.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-4 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1 5-ESS2-1 5-ESS3-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Science-U: Lemon Batteries

Is it possible to use the acid in a lemon to power a light? Try it to find out! Students will create a circuit with a lemon or other citrus fruit. They will learn how electrochemical cells or batteries work and experiment with using multiple citrus fruits and electrodes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-PS2-3 4-PS3-2,3,4 5-PS1-3,4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: A “Sour” Subject

In this lesson, students will learn about the growth and production of citrus fruits. They will participate in two activities in which they use the skills of observation and mathematical computation to compare and contrast grapefruits and lemons.

A Sour Subject PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 5-PS1-3	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Kids Gardening: Eat a Rainbow

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Citrus:

Videos and Other Resources

True Food TV: Why Ripe Limes Are NOT Green

You've likely never eaten a ripe lime. Here's why in 60 seconds. (1:09)

True Food TV: Almalfi Coast Lemon | How Does It Grow? Special: The Flying Farmer

This human-interest video shows how some Italian lemon farmers grow their huge lemons in terraced gardens on mountainsides off the Almalfi Coast of Italy. From the town below, an 83-year-old, fourth-generation lemon farmer appears to be flying in the clouds as he climbs his arbors to harvest lemons. (11:22)

How Orange Juice Is Made

From orange trees to orange juice. (6:39)

True Food TV: Oranges | How Does It Grow?

Very informative video about varieties of oranges and how they are grown commercially. (7:38)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Tangerine Brochure

Brochure containing tangerine facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Tangerine Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Satsuma Brochure

Brochure containing satsuma facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Satsuma Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Orange Brochure

Brochure containing orange facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Orange Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Lime Brochure

Brochure containing lime facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Lime Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Kumquat Brochure

Brochure containing kumquat facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Kumquat Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Grapefruit Brochure

Brochure containing grapefruit facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Grapefruit Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Center for Ecoliteracy: Nourishing Students: Posters

Display these posters in kitchens, cafeterias, classrooms, and during after-school programs as a fun and engaging way to promote fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating. This set of free, downloadable full-color posters features wildlife animals with the following fruit or vegetable: Radish, Strawberry, Grape, Tomato, Orange.

California Harvest of the Month: Grapefruit Botanical Image

This site includes facts about grapefruit and a colorful diagram of the anatomy of a grapefruit, a lemon, and a lime.

Citrus:

Books

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie Deenihan (2019)

This clever story, complete with a recipe for lemonade, celebrates the pleasures of patience, hard work, nature, and community. Grade Level: Elementary.

book_cover_When_Grandma_Gives_You_A_Lemon_Tree_Jamie_Deenihan

A Star in My Orange: Looking for Nature’s Shapes by Dana Rau (2006)

This book explores shapes in the world around you. Ages: 5-8 years.

An Orange in January by Dianna Aston (2007)

This book follows an orange from blossom to ripe fruit, and from tree to truck to market. Ages: 4-8 years.

book_cover_An_Orange_In_January_Dianna_Aston

Nothing Rhymes with Orange by Adam Rex (2017)

We all know nothing rhymes with orange, but how does that make Orange feel? Well, left out, obviously! When a fruit parade gets together to sing a song about how wonderful they are — and the song happens to rhyme — Orange can't help but feel like it's impossible to ever fit in. But when one particularly intuitive Apple notices how Orange is feeling, the entire English language begins to become a bit more inclusive. Beloved author-illustrator Adam Rex has created a hilarious yet poignant parable about feeling left out, celebrating difference, and the irrefutable fact that nothing rhymes with orange. Grade Level: K-3.

book_cover_Nothing_Rhymes_With_Orange_Adam_Rex

Cucumber:

Lessons and Activities

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Edible Schoolyard: Seed Sleuth

In this activity, students will observe and compare seeds to match which vegetables are related to each other. Using the Seed Sleuth Chart, ask students to observe the size, shape, and color of the seeds to classify the vegetable into its plant family. For example, when comparing pepper, tomato, and eggplant seeds, students realize that they are very similar and that these vegetables belong to the same plant family. To take this lesson further, students can research plant families. Finally, students can expand their vocabulary through this activity, learning the definition of “sleuth” and “taxonomy.”

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Flower Power

This is an excellent flower dissection lesson or pollinator unit that includes pollinator (bee) lessons and videos. Students will observe physical characteristics of flowers and explore principles of pollination.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1,2 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Growing Minds Farm to School Program: In a Pickle

Students conduct an experiment to determine what fraction of vinegar is needed to safely preserve pickles. Students will use math skills to determine volumes needed based on a ratio. The book "The Pickle Patch Bathtub" by Frances Kennedy is a good complement for this lesson.

In A Pickle Student Worksheet - students will learn how we kept food from rotting before we had refrigerators.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.OA.A.3 3.NF.A.1,2,3 3.MD.A.2 4.NF.A.1,2 4.NF.B.3 4.MD.A.1 5.NF.A.1	5-PS1-2,3,4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	4.3.1	7-E-3.3

Cucumber:

Videos and Other Resources

Pickle Time-Lapse

Time-lapse video of a cucumber growing from flower to picking size. (2:39)

Disco Cucumber Time-Lapse

Time-lapse video of a cucumber’s tendrils supporting the vine. (1:46)

True Food TV: Cucumber | How Does It Grow?

This video discusses the origin of cucumbers, explains why they sometimes have a bitter taste, and takes you to a commercial farm to show how they grow cucumbers. (7:52)

Botany in a Day Tutorial

In this video Thomas J. Elpel, author of "Botany in a Day," explains how to use the pattern method of identifying plant families. (46:03)

Shanleya’s Quest: A Botany Adventure for Kids Ages 9 to 99

"Shanleya's Quest" is a truly unique educational book that presents botanical concepts and plant identification skills in an easy and fun metaphorical format for children as well as for adults who are young at heart. (8:48)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Cucumber Brochure

Brochure containing cucumber facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Cucumber Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Cucumber:

Books

Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel (2003)

Each family of related plants has unique patterns for identification. Learn to recognize these patterns, and discover them again and again in the plants you encounter. It is possible to instantly recognize a plant never before seen, and in many cases, to know its edible or medicinal properties on the spot — even before you have identified it down to the species!

book cover for "Botany In A Day" by Thomas J Elpel

Shanleya’s Quest: A Botany Adventure for Kids Ages 9 to 99 by Thomas J. Elpel (2003)

In a mythical world where time is a liquid that falls as rain upon the land, young Shanleya paddles her canoe out to the tree islands to learn the plant traditions of her people. Each island is home to a separate family of plants and an unforgettable Guardian with lessons to teach about the identification and uses of those plants.

book_cover_Shanleyas_Quest_Thomas_J_Elpel

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres (2008)

This rhyming story is perfect for introducing young children to fruits and vegetables that grow up (like corn and peppers), down (like potatoes and carrots), and around (like cucumber and pumpkin vines).

book_cover_Up_Down_And_Around_Katherien_Ayers

The Pickle Patch Bathtub by Frances Kennedy (2004)

One day, Donna tries to bathe in the farmhouse washtub and realizes that her legs are too long. She decides that she will grow pickling cucumbers to sell until she saves up enough money for a new bathtub. How many cucumbers will she have to grow and how long will it take for her to save enough money? Grade Level: Preschool – 2. Lexile Measure: AD830L.

book_cover_The_Pickle_Patch_Bathtub_Frances_Kennedy

The Spider and the Cucumber by Catina Harris (2018)

The spider thinks that the cucumber must feel awful that it isn’t the same color on the inside as on its outside. This book teaches that something different can also be nice. Reading level: Elementary.

book_cover_The_Spider_And_The_Cucumber_Catina_Harris

Cool as a Cucumber: And Other Expressions about Food (It’s Just an Expression) by Bridget Heos (2012)

This book explores a variety of food-related sayings and helps readers figure out what people really mean when they use them. Reading level: Elementary.

book_cover_Cool_As_A_Cucumber_Bridget_Heos

Eggplant:

Lessons and Activities

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Louisiana Harvest of the Month: Why Did the Eggplant Turn Brown?

This lesson focuses on the browning of an eggplant (oxidation) when it is cut or bruised. In a simple controlled experiment, students will test different processes that they believe will inhibit the browning of eggplant slices. The desirability and acceptability of browning on eggplants should also be discussed. Students will brainstorm, discuss, plan, and test different processes that could inhibit eggplant browning. Before this activity, students should understand that a chemical reaction occurs when two or more substances combine to form a new substance.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	5-PS1-2 5-PS1-3 5-PS1-4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	4.3.1	7-E-3.3

Science with Kids: Antioxidant Experiment

Antioxidants are chemical compounds that slow down or stop oxidation. In this controlled experiment students will treat pieces of apples and bananas with three common household antioxidants (lemon juice, corn syrup, and sugar) to prevent browning or oxidation. Then, they will compare the treated pieces to the control pieces (pieces not treated).

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	5-PS1-2 5-PS1-3 5-PS1-4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	4.3.1	7-E-3.3

Eggplant:

Videos and Other Resources

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Eggplant Brochure

Brochure containing eggplant facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Eggplant Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

Harvesting and Saving Eggplant Seeds

Saving eggplant seeds is very easy, and doesn't require fermenting. A couple of eggplants will produce many more seeds than you need. (7:31)

Growing Eggplant from Seed

This video shows an eggplant forming on the plant from flower to fruit. (3:02)

Oxidation in Apples

This tutorial explains oxidation and how to stop oxidation on an apple slice down to the molecular level. This video can be shown before the eggplant lesson to explain oxidation and give students ideas for stopping the oxidation of their eggplant slice. (4:12)

Eggplant:

Books

The World of Vegetables by Alexandra Lopatina (2011)

Each story, like "How Senior Aubergine Made Teeth Better," is delivered in an entertaining, fairy-tale representational form and tells about a particular vegetable, its values, and its importance in daily diet, and concludes with a healthy recipe for students to make. Ages: 4-10 years.

book_cover_The_World_of_Vegetables_Alexandra_Lopatina

Violet and the Eggplant Painting Problem by Cynthia Wylie (2018)

Violet, a young painter, chooses to grow eggplants because she loves the color purple, and decides to make paintings of them to track their progress. Alas, she discovers there is no more purple paint. She solves her problem in an interesting way! Ages: 4-8 years.

book_cover_Violet_and_the_Purple_Painting_Problem_Cynthia_Wiley

Leafy Greens:

Lessons and Activities

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program: Spinach Worksheets

Taste-test worksheets for spinach along with coloring sheets and other lessons organized by grade level.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4 L.3.5b L.4.5b W.3.2a-d W.4.2a-e W.5.2a-e		1-E-1.1,2,3,6 1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1 7-E-3.3	VA-CE-E5

Vermont Harvest of the Month: Kale

Includes two lessons: The Autobiography of Kale (English) and Parts of a Leaf (Science). Have students imagine they are a kale plant and describe their life from seed to plate. This is a great opportunity to discuss the life cycle of a plant, as it lives through the seasons. Then have students draw and label a kale leaf through observation. On the board, you can draw the parts along with the students and discuss the role of each part as you go.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-2 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4 RL.3.1 RL.4.1 RL.5.1 W.3.3a,b,c,d W.4.3a,b,c,d,e W.5.3a,b,c,d,e		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1 7-E-3.3

New Hampshire Harvest of the Month: Kale

A variety of lessons to explore, taste, and learn about kale. Activities include learning about plant parts, making a massaged kale salad, and mapping the history of kale.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A2 3.MD.B3 4.MD.A2	3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-2 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4 RL.3.1 RL.4.1 RL.5.1	3.3.7 3.10.1 4.1.1 4.4.1,2,3,5,6 4.9.2	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1 7-E-3.3	VA-CE-E5

Cornell Garden-Based Learning: Campaign for Salad

Adapt this lesson and have students elect “candidates” to “represent” salad in their own small garden plot. Students select specific criteria such as days to maturity, taste, and ease of growing and research greens and other salad fixings using seed catalogs. Next they create campaign posters, slogans, and speeches and organize a vote.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		SL.3.1,4,5 SL.4.1,4,5 SL.5.1,4,5 W.3.2,6 W.4.2,6 W.5.2,6	4.8.2	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1 7-E-3.3	VA-CE-E5

California Ag in the Classroom: Spinach

A fact and activity sheet on spinach. Spinach is packed with nutrients, easy to prepare and tasty too! In fact, spinach can be prepared many different ways. This activity will encourage students to add spinach to their diets. Students will compare the visual appearance, taste, texture, and smell of fresh and steamed spinach.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3 4-LS1-1 5-P53-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1 7-E-3.3

Science Center: Photosynthesis and Natural Chemical Reactions

In this activity, students will observe the photosynthesis process taking place in spinach leaves. Students will provide the spinach with carbon dioxide and light, and observe how the leaves release tiny oxygen bubbles (a by-product of photosynthesis).

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Luscious Leaves

The purpose of this lesson is to review the functions of plant leaves and to develop an understanding of leaves as edible parts of some plants. Many edible leaves are part of a healthy diet and are a good source of vitamin A.

Luscious Leaves Lesson PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1	3-LS3-1,2 4-LS1-1 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Leafy Greens:

Videos and Other Resources

Spinach Time-Lapse – 40 days, Soil Cross Section

A time-lapse video that shows how both leaves and roots grow on spinach plants. (2:34)

Suburban Homestead: Growing Kale and Collard Greens

A suburban homesteader gives tips on growing collards and kale. (5:49)

Growing Swiss Chard from Seeds, Days 0-31

A home gardener describes the process of growing Swiss chard from seeds in a container. (13:13)

Leafy Greens:

Books

Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale (2018)

Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale" is an explosive tale of how a ten-year-old girl saves her fifth grade science class with kale. It mixes fiction with real world threats and shows that anyone at any age can cause a healthy food movement. This easy reader is all about food, innovation and community.

Sylvia’s Spinach by Katherine Pryor and Anna Raff (2014)

A picky eater discovers the joy of growing food and the pleasure of tasting something new. Sylvia Spivens always says no to spinach. But one day Sylvia's teacher gives her a packet of spinach seeds to plant for the school garden. Overcoming her initial reluctance and giving the seeds a little love and patience, Sylvia discovers the joy of growing food and the pleasure of tasting something new.

book_cover_Sylvias_spinach_Katherine_Pryor_Anna_Raff

Sneaky Spinach by Alexis Schulze and Sophie Hanton (2016)

This is a story about a boy named Nick who refuses to eat his vegetables. He doesn't know how important fruits and vegetables are for his brain and body, so a group of Super Spinach leaves comes up with a clever little scheme.

book_cover_Sneaky_spinach_Alexis_Schulze_Sophia_Hanton

Pete Moss and the Super Strong Spinach: Bloomers Island Garden of Stories #1 by Cynthia Wylie and Courtney Carbone (2018)

Follow Pete Moss in this magical, beautifully illustrated story as he attends boarding school on Bloomers Island to learn about gardening and growing his own vegetables.

book_cover_Pete_Moss_and_the_Super_Strong_Spinach_Cynthia_Wylie

The Tale of Kale by Lisa Borden (2015)

"The Tale of Kale" is a based on a real story and a real kid, and is meant to be a colorful and happy way to encourage good eating habits and develop excitement for trying new things.

book_cover_The_Tale_of_Kale_Lisa_Borden_Wengsi_Chiu

Lettuce:

Lessons and Activities

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program: Salad Greens Worksheets

Taste-test worksheets for salad greens along with coloring sheets and other lessons organized by grade level.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4 L.3.5b W.3.2 W.4.2 W.5.2		1-E-1.1,2,3,4 1-E-2.3 6-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-1.1,2	VA-CE-E5

Kids Gardening: Let There Be Light

Students will learn about how light is important to plants, and how both quality and quantity of light affect plant growth. Students will also design and conduct experiments using grow lights to demonstrate the impact of variations in light on plant growth. From this they will draw conclusions about the best and most efficient source of light for plants.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1 4.MD.B.4 5.MD.A.1 5.MD.B.2	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-2,3 4-PS3-2.4 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4

Kids Gardening: Edible Landscaping

Interested in starting a food garden with your students, but can’t find space for a traditional vegetable garden or fruit orchard? Try edible landscaping! Students will investigate the ornamental properties of lettuce to expand their perceptions of plant material that can be used in landscapes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B4 4.MD.A1,B4 5.MD.A1,A2	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	W.3.1,2,4,6,7 W.4.1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9 W.5.1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9 SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4		1-E-1.1,1.2,1.4,2.3 7-E-1.1,1.3	VA-AP-E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6 VA-AP-M1,M2,M3,M4,M5,M6 VA-CE-E3,E5,E6 VA-CE-M3,M5,M6

California Ag in the Classroom: Lettuce

A fact and activity sheet on lettuce. Lettuce and other leafy greens can be grown from a cutting. Students will design a science experiment to observe the phenomenon, then research and find out why it works and what plants need to grow.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A1 3.MD.B4	4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4		1-E-2.2 1-E-2.3 1-E-2.4 7-E-1.1 7-E-2.1	VA-CE-E5

Florida Harvest of the Month: Lettuce Classroom Guide

A variety of lettuce lessons and activities focused on math, science, language arts, and social studies.

Awesome Adjectives: Students will identify adjectives and the nouns they describe (Language Arts)

Line Plots: Students will create a line plot and fill in the part-to-whole ratios (Math)

Note: Parts of this lesson may be more appropriate for Grade 6.

What are We Eating: Students will think of fruits and vegetables they like to eat and categorize them by what part of the plant is eaten (Science)

Needs and Risks: Students will brainstorm potential needs and risks of different food system jobs (Social Studies)

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
5.G.A1,A2 6.RP.A1,A2 6.SP.B4,B5	4-LS1-1	L.3.1a L.4.1d SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4	3.8.1 4.9.3 4.9.4

Kids Gardening: Simple Straw Aeration Hydroponics System

Kids are always amazed to see plants growing without soil. This simple kid-powered system gives them a chance to experiment and explore hydroponic basics.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-4 4-LS1-1 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Kids Gardening: Lettuce Be Healthy

Growing the makings of your own salad indoors is a fun and easy way to bring greenery into your classroom and your diet. First, students research different varieties of lettuce from seed catalogs (online or request catalogs). Students will learn that different varieties of lettuce have different vitamins and minerals and look different (e.g., color, head, or leaf). Students will track the growth of their plants using the Lettuce Growth Chart. If you want to add an experimental element, students can grow the plants in different locations and compare the height, rate of growth, and color of their plants.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
4.MD.A.1,2 4.MD.B.4 5.MD.B.2	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4		1-E-2.3,2.4 7-E-1.1,2.1

Vermont Harvest of the Month: Mixed Greens

A variety of lessons to explore, taste, and learn about mixed greens. Activities include growing greens in a plastic bottle greenhouse, conducting taste tests, and mapping the history of salad.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Washington State University Extension: Lett’uce Eat

Explore and taste leafy green snacks, plant lettuce seeds, find out which are the healthiest, and take home your own lettuce plant. Learn about various lettuces and greens, their nutritional values, and how to make healthy snacks using greens.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1			1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Luscious Leaves

The purpose of this lesson is to review the functions of plant leaves and to develop an understanding of leaves as edible parts of some plants. Many edible leaves are part of a healthy diet and are a good source of vitamin A.

Luscious Leaves Lesson PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1	3-LS3-1,2 4-LS1-1 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Lettuce:

Videos and Other Resources

True Food TV: 6 Amazing Heirloom Lettuces to Plant Now for Fall/Home Gardening: Ep. 8

Along with introducing her top picks for easy-to-grow, delicious lettuce, kale and mustard greens, Nicole Jolly of True Food TV explains the history of lettuce. (10:03)

How to Make a Mini Kratky Hydroponic System for Lettuce

A video on growing lettuce from seed to harvest by a home gardener. (10:42)

How to Grow Lettuce from Seed to Harvest

A video on growing lettuce from seed to harvest by a home gardener. (9:18)

Time-Lapse Video of Hydroponic Lettuce – 25 days

Growing lettuce hydroponically in 25 days. (2:25)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Lettuce Brochure

Brochure containing lettuce facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the "Lettuce Nutrition" paragraph to download the flyer.

NASA Space Station Live: Lettuce Look at Veggie

Astronauts on the International Space Station are ready to sample their harvest of a crop of "Outredgeous" red romaine lettuce from the Veggie plant growth system that tests hardware for growing vegetables and other plants in space. (4:06)

National Ag in the Classroom: Desktop Greenhouses

Do plants need light? Investigate the importance of light to plants by creating desktop greenhouses. This video provides a visual demonstration to accompany the detailed instructions found in the Desktop Greenhouses lesson plan and kit. (3:02)

Hydroponic Gardening: Grow Organic Plants Fast

Virtual field trip to an organic hydroponic lettuce farm. Students will see how lettuce is grown hydroponically year-round. (3:06)

Kids Gardening: Best Crops for Hydroponics – Growing Guide

This guide discusses the best starter crops for beginning hydroponic gardening.

Kids Gardening: Gardening Basics – Hydroponics

This is a simple guide to the two main types of hydroponic systems: passive and active.

Lettuce:

Books

Lettuce Grows on the Ground by Mari Schuh and Gail Saunders-Smith (2007)

Simple text and photographs describe how lettuce grows on the ground.

book_cover_Lettuce_Grows_on_the_Ground_Mari_Schuc_Gail_Saunders-Smith

Lettuce! by Diana Kizlauskas (2015)

This thoughtful, fun, and compelling tale focuses on Rabbit, who finds that lettuce he has planted has grown as big as a building... With its complex themes presented in a simple yet delightful story, this will make an excellent addition to any picture-book collection.

Mushrooms:

Lessons and Activities

Florida Harvest of the Month: Mushroom Classroom Guide

Multiple pdf classroom guides for grades K-8 found at this website

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
K.MD.A 1.MD.A.1 2.MD.D.10 3.MD.3.6-7 4.MD.A.1,3	K-LS-1-1 [1, 3-5]-LS1-1 2-LS2-1 5-LS2-1		1.3.7 4.1.1

American Mushroom Institute: Mushrooms Grades

Traditional style lessons (read then answer a worksheet) include A History of Mushrooms, Mushroom Farming in the Kennett Square Area, How Mushrooms Grow, The Parts of the Mushroom and Recycling in the Mushroom Farming Industry.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS4-3 4-LS1-1	W.K.1-3 L.[1-2].5 SL.[K-5].1-3 RI.[K-5].1-3

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom: Mushrooms

A fact and activity sheet on mushrooms.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	4-LS1-1	SL.[K-5].1-3 RI.[K-5].1-3		1.E.1 [K-5]

Mushrooms:

Videos and Other Resources

Do Mushrooms Have Roots? A Lesson on How Mushrooms Grow

The answer is ‘No’, but they do have a wonderful root-like structure called mycelium. (4:13)

Mushroom Bloom Time Lapse

Another time-lapse video showing the growth of multiple types of mushrooms. (2:14)

Fungi Time-lapse Compilation 01

Time-lapse video showing the growth of multiple types of mushrooms. (5:02)

Discovery Channel: Mushroom Production

A wonderful video that explains how button mushrooms are grown, from compost/soil preparation through harvest and then to the store. (4:30)

Mushrooms:

Books

From Spore to Mushroom by Lisa Owings (2017)

Follow each step in the mushroom’s life cycle - from spores drifting in the wind to fully grown mushrooms.

The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel (2018)

This book takes the reader on a tour of the forest floor mushroom hunting. Appeared on Best of 2018 lists from Quill & Quire and the Globe and Mail

Melon & Watermelon:

Lessons and Activities

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: FoodMASTER Fruits

Students will identify fruits that grow on a tree, bush, or vine. They will also classify fruits as pome, drupe, berry, melon, or citrus. Expand this lesson by performing an experiment on the browning of fruit or learn how to dry plums to make prunes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1 5-PS1-4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Plant and Animal Life Cycles

A series of lessons featuring life cycles of plants (apple, cotton, pea, pumpkin, tomato, and watermelon) and animals (chicken).

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1	SL.3.1,2,3

Melon & Watermelon:

Videos and Other Resources

Be Amazed: Top 10 Foods That Originally Looked Totally Different

Here are 10 fruits and veggies that looked and often tasted very different before we started cultivating them! Included: corn, avocado, peach, eggplant, tomato, strawberry, carrot, cucumber, banana, and watermelon. (10:02)

How to Pick a Ripe Watermelon

An informative video on how to know when a watermelon is ripe enough to pick. Some of these tips can also be used to pick a ripe watermelon from the store. (2:07)

Watermelon from Seed: Time-Lapse

A time-lapse video of watermelon growing from germination (Day 8) to first true leaves (Day 39). (1:05)

True Food TV: SEEDLESS Watermelon – You’ll Never Guess How It’s Grown

If seedless watermelons have no seeds, how exactly are they grown? And what about other seedless fruit? Bananas and seedless grapes — how do they grow? Prepare to have your mind blown. (3:39)

Learn Fun Facts About Watermelons

A short video with facts about watermelons. (0.49)

Melon & Watermelon:

Books

A Seed Grows (My First Look at a Plant’s Life Cycle) by Pamela Hickman (1997)

The "My First Look At" series provides young children with an introduction to the world around them. In "A Seed Grows," follow the growth of a plant, from a peek inside a sprouting seed to the harvest of the fruit. The book suggests ways parents and children can explore nature — without disturbing it. Reading level: Upper Elementary.

Spit N’ Good Seeds by Barbara Wiese Harris (2014)

An engaging tale based on a true story originally written by the author for her niece. Morgan, the main character, interacts with the people and animals around her to create a watermelon patch so that she can enjoy spit n’ seeds with her uncle. The story is full of laughable twists that will delight the reader. The author, having studied botany, has craftily woven the life cycle of a watermelon into the plot and has further enhanced it with her illustrations. Grade Level: 3-4.

book cover for "Spit n Good Seeds" by Barbara Wiese Harris

Vietnamese Tales of Rabbits and Watermelons by Masao Sakairi (2006)

Two folktales are written for reading aloud. In the first tale, a trickster rabbit gets into one scrape after another but always manages to escape. The second story is about a good man who is wronged by the lies of rivals and triumphs with help from watermelons. Age: 9-12 years.

book_cover_Vietnamese_Tales_of_Rabbits_and_Watermelons_Masao_Sakairi

Watermelon Day by Kathi Appelt (1996)

There's a watermelon growing in the corner of the patch where the fence posts meet, and Jesse is waiting for it. Waiting for it to fill up with the cool summer rain and the hot summer sun. Waiting until at last it is ripe and ready for eating. Waiting until it is ready for her family's annual Watermelon Day. Reading Level: Elementary.

Watermelon Wishes by Lisa Moser (2006)

Charlie and his grandfather spend their summer growing a patch of watermelons and waiting for the perfect one to wish on. Reading Level: Elementary.

Watermelon Party by Jasmine Cabanaw (2014)

"Watermelon Party" is based on a real event that happened at Rocky Ridge Refuge. One Fourth of July, Janice put out a watermelon, and one by one the animals gathered around the watermelon, sharing in its juicy sweetness side by side, despite their differences in species and size. It is the perfect story of friendship, love, animal rescue, and good old summertime fun! The writing style is light and fun. The repetitive rhyming scheme will help children with their reading skills and learning action words. Reading Level: Elementary.

book_cover_Watermelon_Party_Jasmine_Cabanaw

Watermelon Madness by Taghreed Najjar (2018)

Noura is crazy about watermelon. She wants to eat nothing else, every day, at every meal. In fact, Noura thinks there is no such thing as too much watermelon — until one night, when the watermelon she has hidden in her room to eat all by herself begins to grow and Noura gets taken on a wild watermelon adventure! A story that can be the springboard for a discussion on favorite foods, eating a balanced diet, sharing with others, and trying new foods. Reading level: Elementary.

book_cover_Watermelon_Madness_Taghreed_Najjar

Radish:

Lessons and Activities

Food Corps: Rocks to Radishes – Understanding the Food System

Students will make the connection between their food sources and geology. They will make the connection between the origins of food in nature and understand the important actors and stages involved from seed to fork. Students will develop a concept of what a “food system” is.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	2-ESS1-1 4-ESS2-3 4-ESS3-2 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.3.1 SL.4.1 SL.5.1	3.9.2

Arizona State University: Radish Germination and Inquiry

Introduce students to germination, plant needs and how to set up a scientific experiment. Radish seed germination will be the focus as students choose a problem to investigate, design and conduct an experiment, then make observations and a conclusion.

Note: Students are required to calculate the percentage of germination. Calculating percentage is introduced in Grade 6. However, students can calculate the percentage on calculators, if instructed or with teacher assistance.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
6-RP.A3c	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-2 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4

National Science Teaching Association: The Radish Party

Students learn that stem strength and color, in addition to growth, are indicative of a healthy plant and healthy soil. Students will grow radish seeds in three soil types and predict which will grow the biggest radish. When the set investigation time is up, bring students together to compare their earlier predictions to the actual plants grown. Ask the students to make observations and look for differences (advanced students may even make a few measurements).

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS3-1,2 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: Cycles – From Rot to Radishes

The central investigation of this unit helps students answer the question, "Where does the stuff living things are made of go after those organisms die?" Throughout the unit, students grapple with the notion that matter is neither created nor destroyed, but it takes different forms as it cycles — as part of a living thing at one point in time, and as part of the non-living environment at another. This is a unit with eight lessons. Here are the links to the PDFs for each lesson:

Lesson 1: A Challenge from GROW Students observe soil samples, talk about where soil nutrients come from, receive a letter from a company that wants to know if dead plants can be used as fertilizer, and then develop research questions.

Lesson 2: Plans and Peer Reviews Students work in groups to design a fair test that will yield information for GROW, and then review each other's plans and decide on a final design. Supplemental resource: Research Proposal

Lesson 3: Up and Running Students set up experiments to test the effects of compost tea on plant growth, learn about plant development, and then monitor their experiments for 3-5 weeks.

Lesson 4: Exploring Plant and Soil Connection Students prepare for and conduct an outdoor investigation of soil in areas where plants and other landscape features differ, and then use their findings to think about plant and soil connections.

Lesson 5: Planting Preferences Students work in groups to rank four sites according to their suitability for planting shrubs, and then independently complete a diagram showing a nutrient cycle for the preferred site.

Lesson 6: Radish Results Students make and process final observations of their plants and graphs, discuss their data in groups, compile data for the whole class, discuss conclusions, and then write letters to GROW. Supplemental resource: Group Work Evaluation

Lesson 7: GROW Gets an Answer Students complete their work for GROW by working in groups to create advertisements that teach the public about nutrient cycling and GROW's research and products. Supplemental resource: Group Work Evaluation and Portfolio Cover Sheet

Lesson 8: Hiring a Scientist Students recommend who GROW should hire as a scientist after reviewing three job applications.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1,2 5.MD.A.1	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Whole Kids Foundation and American Heart Association: Root Study

Root Study Lesson on Pages 59-64. Root vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Students will explore the function of roots by dissecting a radish. Students will keep a dissection log of their findings in their Garden Journal.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1,2 5.MD.A.1	3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2 4-LS1-1 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Center for Ecoliteracy: Raising Radishes

Students will learn about composting as a way to recycle food waste, and then conduct an experiment with radish seeds to see which type of soil is best for radishes: soil only, compost only, or a mixture of soil and compost. Using composting to lessen the human impact on the environment could be discussed.

Supplemental resource: Comparative Tasting of Fruits and Vegetables — Students taste two or more varieties of a particular kind of fruit or vegetable, develop language to describe its nuances, and learn about its growing requirements and seasonality.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1,2 5.MD.A.1	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Radish:

Videos and Other Resources

How to Grow Radishes – Complete Growing Guide

This growing guide will demonstrate how to grow radishes from start to finish. (6:37)

Radish Time-Lapse (68 days)

This is a time-lapse video of radishes growing. (2:35)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Radish Brochure

Brochures containing facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the flyer.

Center for Ecoliteracy: Nourishing Students: Posters

Display these posters in kitchens, cafeterias, classrooms, and during after-school programs as a fun and engaging way to promote fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating. Nourishing Students: Enrichment Activities for Grades K–5 coordinates with these five posters and makes after-school, out-of-school, and summer programs more memorable. This set of free, downloadable full-color posters features wildlife animals with the following fruit or vegetable: Radish, Strawberry, Grape, Tomato, Orange.

Radish:

Books

Rosey Posey and the Perfectly Pink Radish: Bloomers Island Garden of Stories #2 by Cynthia Wylie and Courtney Carbone (2018)

Follow young Rosey Posey in a magical, beautifully illustrated story as she attends boarding school on Bloomers Island to learn about gardening and growing her own vegetables. When Professor Sage announces the Very Very Veggie Challenge, Rosey isn’t sure she wants to participate.

book_cover_Rosey_Posey_and_the_Perfectly_Pink_Raddish

The Red Radish by Twiggle Books

Working together and helping friends are the focuses of this Twiggle Book. When a rabbit has trouble pulling out a radish from the ground, one by one his friends — big and small — come to his rescue. They pull and pull together until the radish pops out of the ground. Then they all share eating it.

Rah, Rah, Radishes!: A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre (2020)

Veggies take the stage in a rollicking ode to healthy eating in this Classic Board Book edition of "Rah, Rah, Radishes!"

book_cover_Rah_Rah_Radishes_April_Pulley_Sayre

Shrimp:

Sweet Corn:

Lessons and Activities

Three Sisters Garden- Kids Gardening

Students will explore the benefits of companion planting by investigating the historical Native American planting of Three Sisters Gardens. Students will also learn how the growth habits and biology of certain plants can complement each other to form a symbiotic or mutually beneficial relationship.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	K-LS1-1 K-ESS3-1 1-LS3-1 2-LS2-1 2-LS2-2 2-PS1-1 3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS1-3,4 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.K.1,2,3 RL.K.1,2,3 SL.1.1,2,3 RL.1.1,2,3 SL.2.1,2,3 RL.2.1 SL.3.1 SL.4.1 SL.5.1 W.3.1,4 W.4.1,4 W.5.1,4	5.3.6 5.5.2	1-E-2.1,2,3,4

Get Popping!

This lesson from National Agriculture in the Classroom allows students to discover how popcorn is grown and explore the phenomenon of how popcorn pops. Teach students how seeds are planted, the germination process, and more.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 5-PS1-1,3	SL.3.1 SL.4.1 SL.5.1 W.3.1,4 W.4.1,4 W.5.1,4		1-E-2.1,2,3,4

National Ag in the Classroom: Three Sisters Garden

Students will investigate the "three sisters" crops (corn, beans, and squash) and explore the benefit to planting these crops together. Students will also learn about Native American Legends and plant growth. Three Sisters Garden PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Food Corps: Growing Native American Heritage – Three Sisters

This activity explores the foods, the customs, and the stories that evolved from the planting of corn, beans, and squash—the Three Sisters—which is a tradition of several Native American tribes from the northeastern region of North America. The lesson also uses myths/legends and traditional stories to teach about American Indians beliefs and cultures.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Sweet Corn:

Videos and Other Resources

Three Sisters Legend

The legend explains the history of this Native American companion planting method.

Sweet Corn:

Books

Corn Aplenty by Dana Meachen Rau (2009)

Two children watch a local farmer grow a crop of corn, and as the corn develops—from seed to harvest time—so does the friendship between the children and the farmer. This simple Step 1 Reader features word repetition and patterning and is perfect for emergent readers.

From Kernel to Corncob by Ellen Weiss (2007)

Using simple text and illustrations, describes how a kernel grows into a piece of corn.

The Popcorn Book Paperback by Tomie dePaola (1978)

What popcorn is, how it's stored, and how it's cooked, plus legends and recipes.

Corn Is Maize: The Gift of the Indians by Aliki (1996)

Maize has been an important crop from its beginning as a simple grass plant to its hybridization with teosinte to new protein-rich kinds. Used by both Indians and Pilgrims as food, maize is now also used in medicines, soaps, glues, powders, and other products. Popcorn, corn on the cob, cornbread, tacos, tamales, and tortillas—all of these and many other good things come from one amazing plant: corn!

The Life and Times of Corn by Charles Micucci (2009)

What grain has seeds in all colors of the rainbow, can grow twenty feet high, is often harvested by moonlight, and is more valuable to the United States than gold?

Corn by Gail Gibbons (2009)

Find out everything about this versatile and important grain—its history as a crop, the four main types, and how we grow and use it to make everything from food to paper to medicine!

The Biography of Corn (How Did That Get Here?) by L Michelle Nielsen (2007)

Maize, or com, was the staple food of many early cultures in South America, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean. The Biography of Corn will teach young readers how the farming of corn spread to the rest of the world and how corn may be one answer to today's problem of fossil fuel consumption.

Snap Beans:

Lessons and Activities

Three Sisters Garden- Kids Gardening

Students will explore the benefits of companion planting by investigating the historical Native American planting of Three Sisters Gardens. Students will also learn how the growth habits and biology of certain plants can complement each other to form a symbiotic or mutually beneficial relationship.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	K-LS1-1 K-ESS3-1 1-LS3-1 2-LS2-1 2-LS2-2 2-PS1-1 3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS1-3,4 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.K.1,2,3 RL.K.1,2,3 SL.1.1,2,3 RL.1.1,2,3 SL.2.1,2,3 RL.2.1 SL.3.1 SL.4.1 SL.5.1 W.3.1,4 W.4.1,4 W.5.1,4	5.3.6 5.5.2	1-E-2.1,2,3,4

Kids Gardening: Let There Be Light

Students will learn about how light is important to plants, and how both quality and quantity of light affect plant growth. Students will also design and conduct experiments using grow lights to demonstrate the impact of variations in light on plant growth. From this they will draw conclusions about the best and most efficient source of light for plants.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1 4.MD.B.4 5.MD.A.1 5.MD.B.2	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-2,3 4-PS3-2.4 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	SL.3.1,4 SL.4.1,4 SL.5.1,4

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Three Sisters Garden

Students will investigate the "three sisters" crops (corn, beans, and squash) and explore the benefit to planting these crops together. Students will also learn about Native American Legends and plant growth. Three Sisters Garden PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Food Corps: Growing Native American Heritage – Three Sisters

This activity explores the foods, the customs, and the stories that evolved from the planting of corn, beans, and squash—the Three Sisters—which is a tradition of several Native American tribes from the northeastern region of North America. The lesson also uses myths/legends and traditional stories to teach about American Indians beliefs and cultures.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Magic Beans and Giant Plants

Students will plant seeds and make considerations on which conditions affect plant growth. They will design and conduct experiments using a problem-solving process and compare and contrast to understand the parameters that influence the health and growth of living things.

Magic Beans and Giant Plants PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4 4.MD.A.1,2 5.MD.A.1	3-LS1-1 5-LS1-1 5-PS3-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Snap Beans:

Videos and Other Resources

Three Sisters Legend

The legend explains the history of this Native American companion planting method.

Green Beans – Growing Step by Step [How to Do It]

A step-by-step video on growing and harvesting green beans. (5:40)

Green Bean Time-Lapse

This is a time-lapse video of green beans growing in a hydroponics system. (7:21)

Snap Beans:

Books

Green Bean! Green Bean! by Patricia Thomas (2016)

Plant it ― water it ― weed it ― protect it ― and under the blossoms is the perfect shady nook to read a book! Pretty soon it's time to pick all those long, lean beans, and to harvest a full season of garden knowledge and experience.

book_cover_Green_Bean_Green_Bean_Patricia_Thomas

Green Bean Dance by Ryan J. Schroeder

Finally, a book that gives children a way to discover the JOY in trying new foods. It's time to do the "Green Bean Dance”! Children will delight in the sounds and actions in the story. They'll go from not wanting to eat their vegetables to dancing at the opportunity. Parents will enjoy the simple words that tell an important message — you always have to try new things to find out if you'll like them. "Green Bean Dance" is the perfect book for kids just beginning to read or for parents to read to their child before dinner or at bedtime.

book_cover_Green_Bean_Dance_Ryan_Schroeder

How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle and Mark Fearing (2013)

Martha HATES green beans. When some mean, green bandits stroll into town, anyone who ever said "Eat your green beans" is in big trouble. But when the beans kidnap Martha's parents, Martha is forced to take action. She can think of only one way to stop the villainous veggies from taking over her town, and it’s not pretty...or tasty. Featuring absurdly funny text and illustrations with attitude, this is a hilarious read for everyone — even the pickiest of eaters.

book_cover_How_Martha_Saved_her_Parents_David_LaRochelle

Squash:

Lessons and Activities

Three Sisters Garden- Kids Gardening

Students will explore the benefits of companion planting by investigating the historical Native American planting of Three Sisters Gardens. Students will also learn how the growth habits and biology of certain plants can complement each other to form a symbiotic or mutually beneficial relationship.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	K-LS1-1 K-ESS3-1 1-LS3-1 2-LS2-1 2-LS2-2 2-PS1-1 3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS1-3,4 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	SL.K.1,2,3 RL.K.1,2,3 SL.1.1,2,3 RL.1.1,2,3 SL.2.1,2,3 RL.2.1 SL.3.1 SL.4.1 SL.5.1 W.3.1,4 W.4.1,4 W.5.1,4	5.3.6 5.5.2	1-E-2.1,2,3,4

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

California Harvest of the Month: Winter Squash

This Harvest of the Month newsletter has activities that give students the opportunity to explore, taste, and learn about the importance of eating winter squash. It also includes information on its origins and how it grows.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Three Sisters Garden

Students will investigate the "three sisters" crops (corn, beans, and squash) and explore the benefit to planting these crops together. Students will also learn about Native American Legends and plant growth. Three Sisters Garden PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Vermont Harvest of the Month: Winter Squash

Students will explore, taste, and learn about eating winter squash. Activities include a squash matching game, mapping the history, and making a squash recipe.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Food Corps: Growing Native American Heritage – Three Sisters

This activity explores the foods, the customs, and the stories that evolved from the planting of corn, beans, and squash—the Three Sisters—which is a tradition of several Native American tribes from the northeastern region of North America. The lesson also uses myths/legends and traditional stories to teach about American Indians beliefs and cultures.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS4-2,3,4 4-LS1-1 4-ESS2-3 5-PS3-1 5-LS1-1 5-LS2-1	RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

California Harvest of the Month: Zucchini

Information on zucchini with ideas for the classroom. Includes a taste test guide, recipes, nutrition information, and botanical facts. Students will learn growing information for zucchini and complete the activity "Zucchini Math".

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.NF.A.3 3.MD.A.2 4.NF.B.4 4.MD.A.1,2 5.NF.A.1,2 5.NF.B.3,4,5,6 5.MD.A.1	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-PS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom: Cool Cucurbits

Students will learn about the group of vegetables known as cucurbits and use cucurbits in a variety of creative activities. Activities include playwriting, math and reading activities, writing haikus and interpreting poetry, mapping, and scientific experiments with squash.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.NF. A.1 4.NF.A.1,2	3-LS1-1, 3-LS4-3 4-LS1-1 5-PS3-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Louisiana Harvest of the Month: Just How Big is That Seed?

This lesson focuses on using the mathematical skill of measuring an object, in this case three varieties of summer squash seeds. The lesson can also be adapted for winter squash. As part of the introduction to the lesson, students identify the three types of summer squash: zucchini, yellow straightneck or crookneck, and patty pan. Students will also examine the inside of each squash after it is cut in half. The purpose of the seed is discussed as well as the role of the fruit that surrounds it. The lesson can also be adapted for winter squash.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
4.MD.A.1	4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Louisiana Harvest of the Month: Holey Zucchini

This lesson focuses on a simple experiment that examines the protective character of summer squash skin. In this experiment, the teacher will prepare summer squash (zucchini) by poking holes with a fork in half of them. Students will examine the squash after two weeks of being kept at room temperature and compare the punctured zucchini with fresh zucchini. The lesson can also be adapted for winter squash.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	4-LS-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Mystery Science: Why Do Plants Grow Flowers?

In this e-lesson, students learn how and why flowers are pollinated. Students will make flower models out of paper and bee models out of pipe cleaners. Students fly their bees from flower to flower and observe what happens to the flower’s pollen during this process. This is a great lesson that can be easily adapted to squash flowers by coloring the flowers yellow. This would be a good place to introduce male and female flowers on cucurbits. The "Identifying Male and Female Squash Flowers and How to Hand-Pollinate" video explains pollination in cucurbits and shows the male and female flowers.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Squash:

Videos and Other Resources

Three Sisters Legend

The legend explains the history of this Native American companion planting method.

1,223-Pound Giant Pumpkin Time-Lapse

This is a time-lapse video of a 1,223-pound giant pumpkin from seed to scale. The pumpkin was grown from a seed out of the 2,009-pound world record pumpkin grown by Ron Wallace in Rhode Island. (3:40)

Pumpkin Growth Time-Lapse

Time-lapse video showing growth of a pumpkin from seed to mature fruit – 108 days and nights. (4:26)

Growing the Home Garden: Lots of blooms but no Squash? This might be the problem!

Squash produces separate male and female flowers. If you don't have both male and female flowers, you can't have pollinated flowers for squash production. Female flowers of squash, zucchini, and other cucurbits will have a "mini-fruit" just underneath the flower. That's the ovary. If it is just a stem, then you have a male flower. Male flowers almost always form first to prepare pollinators for the presence of the squash plant. It's designed to attract them to the squash plant to improve pollination. (4:26)

Identifying Male and Female Squash Flowers and How to Hand-Pollinate

There are male and female squash, zucchini, and cucumber flowers. The female flowers have little baby squash on them — but if the flower doesn't get pollinated, the squash will grow a bit and die off. Sad. Here is a basic introduction to male and female squash flowers and hand-pollination. (2:38)

How Summer Squash Grow

Video showing the development of zucchini squash from immature fruit with flower to mature fruit on the plant. (1:26)

Summer Squash Growing Time-Lapse

Time-lapse video showing growth of summer squash from germination to flowering to fruit. (0:47)

Squash:

Books

I Heard It from Alice Zucchini: Poems About the Garden (2006) by Juanita Havill

From the still chill of a winter night to the ra-ta-ta, ra-ta-ta, ra-ta-ta-too of a lively vegetable stew, these twenty whimsical poems celebrate the joys of a garden from start to finish. A tour de force of imagination, I Heard It from Alice Zucchini invites you to join in the Pea Pod Chant, wander through the Rhubarb Forest, dance with the Dainty Doily Dill Weed, gossip with Alice Zucchini, and hold your breath on the pumpkin's enchanted evening.

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum (2007)

Photographs show the life cycle of a pumpkin. Nonfiction. Age range: 4-8 years.

book_cover_Seed_Sprout_Pumpkin_Pie_Jill_Esbaum

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara (2007)

A teacher and his students consider how many seeds might be in the big, medium, and small pumpkins that are sitting on his desk. They make estimates and use skip counting to find out the answer. Age range: 4-8 years.

book_cover_How_many_seeds_Are_in_a_Pumpkin_Margaret_McNamara

Plant Plumbing by Susan Blackaby (2003)

Learn how plants store food during the winter and carry water up to the leaves through their roots and stems. Age range: 4-8 years.

book_cover_Plant_Plumbing_Susan_Blackaby

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper (2005)

A squabble between friends happens while they are cooking pumpkin soup. Age range: 4-8 years.

The Little Squash Seed by Gayla Seale (2002)

How is it that a dull, dried-up little seed can produce a brightly colored nutritious vegetable? Miraculous things do happen when a seed is planted in the dirt and cared for by an attentive gardener. Kids can put on their garden gloves, grab their tools, and join the little squash seed, the gardener, and his grandchildren for a season of planting, changing, and growing. Reading level: Elementary.

book_cover_the_Little_Squash_Seed_Gayla_Scale

Carlos and the Squash Plant by Jan Stevens (1993)

Carlos’s mother warns Carlos to take a bath each evening after a long day of gardening. See what happens day after day as Carlos refuses to wash the dirt from his body, specifically from inside his ears. Printed in both English and Spanish, this story offers an inside look at Hispanic heritage. Reading level: Elementary.

xbook_cover_Carlos_and_the_Squash_Plant_Jan_Stevens

Zora’s Zucchini by Katherine Pryor (2017)

What do you do with too much zucchini? Have a garden swap! Winner of the 2016 Growing Good Kids Book Award. Ages: 4-10 years.

book_cover_Zoras_Zucchini_Katherine_Pryor

Strawberries:

Lessons and Activities

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Saving the Strawberry Farm

In this lesson, students learn that saving is essential to economic well-being, especially in times of extreme economic downturn. They read "Saving Strawberry Farm," a story about a Depression-era family attempting to save a neighbor's farm by waging a penny auction. Students hear about the lack of goods and services available and the high rate of joblessness during this terrible time. They simulate a bank run to see how even those with savings were affected. Finally, they learn that savings are safe in banks today.

Saving the Strawberry Farm PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RL.3.1,2,3 RL.4.1,2,3 RL.5.1,2,3 RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	3.7.2 3.8.1,2,3,4 4.9.1,3,4,6,9

California Ag in the Classroom: Strawberries Commodity Sheet

This resource contains facts and lesson ideas on strawberries. Strawberries can be used to make several tasty and nutritious snack foods. Students will demonstrate measuring, food processing, and food safety skills as they make a strawberry treat.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: FoodMASTER Fruits

Students will identify fruits that grow on a tree, bush, or vine. They will also classify fruits as pome, drupe, berry, melon, or citrus. Expand this lesson by performing an experiment on the browning of fruit or learn how to dry plums to make prunes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1 5-PS1-4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Kids Gardening: Exploring Food Preservation

Students learn why and how fresh food can be preserved for later consumption. By exploring preservation methods, both ancient and modern, students can appreciate the climatic and survival challenges faced by people in different places and eras. This lesson includes a easy recipe for Triple Berry Freezer Jam to make in the classroom or at home.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	5-PS1-2,3,4	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	4.3.1	7-E-3.3

Kids Gardening: Eat a Rainbow

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Life Lab: Garden Pollinators

This third-grade curriculum includes 5 lessons on pollinators and their adaptations, including adaptation stations. Examining the diversity of pollinators in the garden and their role in the ecosystem provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the mechanisms of adaptation. The student sheets and other resources for these lessons are in the last section of this booklet. These lessons also address three fourth-grade standards.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 3-LS4-1 3-LS4-2 3-LS4-3 3-LS4-4 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2 4-ESS2-3	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Upper Valley Farm to School Harvest Lessons: Berries

Harvest lessons provide a fun way for classrooms to explore, taste, and learn about eating more fruits and vegetables. Included are lessons covering a variety of subjects including geography, nutrition, reading and listening comprehension, measurement and graphing.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.4	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 4-LS1-1 4-LS1-2	RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	3.3.7 3.10.1	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Strawberries:

Videos and Other Resources

Strawberry Plant Runners

Shows runners coming off strawberries in pots and how these runners make new plants. (1:56)

Time-Lapse of Strawberry Plant

A time-lapse video of a strawberry ripening and strawberry flowers opening and closing. (1:49)

Strawberries:

Books

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang (1996)

A wordless picture book about a woman bringing strawberries home from the market who outwits an imp trying to take them. Age: 5-8 years.

Saving Strawberry Farm by Deborah Hopkinson (2005)

In the hot summer of 1933, a young boy helps rally his town to save the local strawberry farm from a bank auction. Set in the Depression, the book focuses on simple pleasures like homemade lemonade and the importance of community. It also features a description of the Depression era in the back of the book. Age: 5-10 years.

book_cover_Saving_Strawberry_Farm_Deborah_Hopkinson

Sweet Peppers:

Lessons and Activities

Florida Harvest of the Month: Bell Pepper

A variety of bell pepper lessons and activities.

Language Arts: Pepper Preferences

Math: Pepper Production

Science: Bell Pepper Parts

Social Studies: Bell Pepper Routes

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

California Ag in the Classroom: Bell Pepper Commodity Sheet

This commodity sheet has facts and activities centered on bell peppers. Peppers add color, flavor, and texture to salads, pizza, pasta, and ethnic foods. In recent years, salsa has become one of America’s favorite condiments. Along with fresh tomatoes, salsa often contains bell and chili peppers. Students will analyze, determine ingredient ratios, and explore the essential role of peppers in salsa.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Wisconsin Harvest of the Month: Peppers

A fact sheet about peppers with information on health benefits, cooking tips, biology and ecology facts. Classroom connection activities cover biology, business, and math.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
4.0A.A.1 4.NBT.B.S	3-LS1-1 3-LS3-1 3-LS3-2 4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Kids Gardening: Eat a Rainbow

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Sweet Peppers:

Videos and Other Resources

True Food TV: Bell Peppers | How Does It Grow?

Very informative video on how bell peppers are grown commercially. (6:05)

Time-Lapse of a Bell Pepper Ripening

Time-lapse video showing growth of a bell pepper from flower to green pepper to red pepper. (4:45)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Bell Pepper Brochure

Brochures containing facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the flyer.

Sweet Peppers:

Books

Green is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors by Roseanne Greenfield Thong (2014)

Featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the colors found in every child’s day! Reading level: Elementary.

book_cover_Green_is_a_Chile_Pepper_Roseanne_Thong

Grandma’s Gumbo by Deborah Kadair (2003)

Bell peppers, shrimp, oysters, onions, and okra — all have an important place in gumbo. Reading level: Elementary.

book_cover_Grandmas_Gumbo_Deborah_Kadair

Sweet Potatoes:

Lessons and Activities

New Hampshire Harvest of the Month: Sweet Potatoes

Harvest lesson plans for K-4 classrooms that cover a variety of topics and include classroom connections.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD	K-LS-1-1 1-LS1-1 2-LS2-1 3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1	W.K.1-3 L.[1-2].5 SL.[K-5].1-3 RL.[K-5].1-3 RI.[K-5].1-3

Sweet Potatoes:

Videos and Other Resources

P. Allen Smith – How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes

Harvesting and storing sweet potatoes. (3:15)

Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

Harvesting Japanese sweet potatoes in a small backyard plot. (4:04)

Making It Grow – Sweet Potato Harvesting

Sweet potatoes planting slips to harvesting on a large farm scale. (5:43)

Sweet Potatoes:

Books

The Gigantic Sweet Potato, by Dianne Casas (2010)

After weeks of hard work and tending to her garden, it was finally time for Ma Farmer to harvest her sweet potato and make some sweet potato pie; but when she tried to pull the tasty vegetable from the ground, it wouldn’t budge. With the help of her husband and some friendly farm animals, they finally pull a gigantic sweet potato from the ground and then all enjoy the sweet potato pie Ma Farmer prepares. This story teaches the importance of team work, patience, and eating healthy, local food!

I Yam a Donkey by Cece Bell (2015)

“I yam a donkey!” the donkey proclaims. Unfortunately the donkey’s audience happens to be a yam, and one who is particular about sloppy pronunciation and poor grammar. See the following for ideas that can be used with this book: https://www.floridamediaed.org/uploads/6/1/4/2/61420659/i_yam_a_donkey.pdf ALA Notable Children's Book Award 2016.

In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby (2008)

Sally tells about a visit by Dr. George Washington Carver to her Alabama town and school. Dr. Carver teaches students about gardening, including the importance of respecting nature, and plant a school “kitchen” garden of their own. At the school picnic, they share Dr. Carver’s sweet-potato-flour bread. Historical-fiction.

Little Chef by Matt Stine & Elisabeth Weinberg (2018)

A little girl prepares to make her grandmother’s favorite meal, which includes “Grandma’s Super Special Smashed Sweet Potatoes.”

Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen Lindsay (2008)

Selling sweet potato pies at the Harvest Festival will be what saves the family farm.

Tomatoes:

Lessons and Activities

National Ag in the Classroom: The Columbian Exchange of Old and New World Foods

Students will explore New World and Old World food origins to understand how the Columbian Exchange altered people’s lives worldwide. This is an activity focused on the origins of foods, including the tomato. After students learn about the origins of foods, they develop a research report on a chosen food.

The Columbian Exchange of Old and New World Foods PDF

Supplemental resource: The Food Timeline

Ever wonder how the ancient Romans fed their armies? What the pioneers cooked along the Oregon Trail? Who invented the potato chip...and why? Most foods are not invented; they evolve. This is timeline of the appearance of different foods.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	3.9.1 3.10.1 4.1.1,2,4 4.2.5 4.3.1 4.9.2 5.1.1,4 5.2.1 5.3.2 5.5.1,2 5.8.1 5.9.1

National Ag in the Classroom: Pizza Time

This lesson uses pizza as a basis for learning about agriculture, geography, and mathematics. Student activities include "Fabulous Fractions and Pizza Probability", "Pizza in Real Time", "Pizza Math", and "Cracker Pizzas".

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.NF.A.1 3.NF.A.3 3.MD.B.3 4.NF.A.1 4.NF.B.4 4.MD.A.2 5.NF.B.7		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Reading Pictographs: Tomato Fest

Summer is here, and farmers are busy picking tomatoes! Kids practice reading a simple pictograph to help Mr. Farmer figure out how many tomatoes he picked during his harvest in this math worksheet. Kids get to practice reading and interpreting graphs and answering word problems. Remember: each tomato in the graph stands for 5 tomatoes picked!

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.B.3

Vermont Harvest of the Month: Tomato

Students will explore, taste, and learn about eating tomatoes. Activities include mapping the history of tomatoes, taste test heirloom tomatoes, and make a salsa recipe.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3	5.9.1	1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Tomatoes

Activity plans for tomatoes include lessons centered around circle time, meal time, and activity time along with fast and fun activities. Each kit includes an activity plan, family recipe, teacher bites, and a parent newsletter and picture cards available in both English and Spanish.

Tomato Activity Plan

Tomato Family Recipe

Tomato Parent Newsletter - English

Tomato Parent Newsletter - Spanish

Tomato Picture Cards - English

Tomato Picture Cards - Spanish

Tomato Teacher Bites

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: A Seedy Fruit Challenge

This activity teaches students to identify different types of fruits and categorize them into two main groups based on whether they are dry or fleshy. Students will follow a worksheet and complete a lab assignment in which they dissect various fruits.

A Seedy Fruit Challenge PDF

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3 4.MD.A.2	3-LS1-1 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3

Florida Ag in the Classroom: A Rainbow of Nutrition

Pages 80-95. Students will research foods made from plant families (with support as needed), identify family members and common nutrients, and create artwork of one family group or a food made from that family. This lesson contains beautiful full-color student handouts of the plant families and the nutrition that they provide.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1 3-LS2-1 3-LS3-1,2 3-LS4-1,2	RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

National Ag in the Classroom: Plant and Animal Life Cycles

A series of lessons featuring life cycles of plants (apple, cotton, pea, pumpkin, tomato, and watermelon) and animals (chicken).

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
	3-LS1-1	SL.3.1,2,3

Kids Gardening: Eat a Rainbow

This lesson teaches the importance of “eating a rainbow” (a variety of fruits and vegetables). Students will learn about the health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Students will learn the different parts of a plant and that they need to consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. They will also discover how color can indicate different nutrients available in fruits and vegetables.

Louisiana Student Standards

Math	Science	English Language Arts	Social Studies	Health	Art
		RI.3.1,2,3,7 RI.4.1,3,7 RI.5.1,2,3 SL.3.1,2,3 SL.4.1,2,3 SL.5.1,2,3		1-E-2.1,2,3,4 7-E-1.1,2,3 7-E-2.1,2 7-E-3.2,3

Tomatoes:

Videos and Other Resources

True Food TV: How to Grow Tomatoes that Taste Amazing!

Pruning. Trellising. Sucker removal. Pest management... all the things you need to know to grow successful tomato plants. (9:31)

True Food TV: Heirloom Tomato | How Does It Grow?

Heirloom tomatoes are SCIENTIFICALLY sweeter than the round red ones that dominate our supermarkets. So why don't we see more heirlooms? Because they are insanely difficult to grow — and sell! Very informative video on how heirloom tomatoes are grown. (11:10)

True Food TV: Tomatoes | How Does It Grow?

Tomato farming is NOT what you think it is! Meet the farmers behind your pasta sauce, who grow and harvest plum-style processing tomatoes — the source of more vitamins than any other fruit or vegetable consumed in the U.S. The history of the tomato is interwoven into a virtual field trip to a commercial tomato farm. (11:02)

Super Sprowtz: A Tomato Force Field!

Tag along with celebrity guest and former White House Chef Sam Kass on a culinary adventure to Aztec, Mexico, where you'll learn about the superpowers inside every tomato. (6:50)

Super Sprowtz: What’s So Special About A Tomato?

Todd the Tomato wonders whether his super safe superpowers are just as incredible as the rest of the Sprowtz team. (5:44)

GroVeg: Ways of Ripening Green Tomatoes

Explains multiple ways of ripening green tomatoes. (3:32)

Time Lapse – Tomato Plant HD

Shows the sprouting of tomato seeds through day 22 (seedlings are about 6 inches tall). (1:13)

Center for Ecoliteracy: Nourishing Students: Posters

Display these posters in kitchens, cafeterias, classrooms, and during after-school programs as a fun and engaging way to promote fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating. This set of free, downloadable full-color posters features wildlife animals with the following fruit or vegetable: Radish, Strawberry, Grape, Tomato, Orange.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Tomato Brochure

Brochures containing facts and recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the flyer.

The Food Timeline

Ever wonder how the ancient Romans fed their armies? What the pioneers cooked along the Oregon Trail? Who invented the potato chip...and why? Most foods are not invented; they evolve.

Tomatoes:

Books

When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano (2016)

A book of free verse poems that follow the seasons, beginning and ending in the spring. Reading level: 5-10 years.

book_cover_When_Green_Becomes_Tomatoes_Julia_foliano

Tomatoes Grow on a Vine by Mari Schuh (2011)

A book that explores the life cycle of the tomato. The book features labeled close-up photos. Ages: 4-8 years.

Life Cycles: Tomatoes by Robin Nelson (2009)

A close-up view of the life cycle of a tomato. Nonfiction. Ages: 5-8 years.

Big Red and the Terrible Tomato Hornworm by Cynthia Wylie (2018)

Big Red starts planting tomatoes and discovers that he’ll have to battle hornworms to keep his tomatoes healthy and safe. In the end, he has to use his newfound gardening knowledge and peacemaking skills to work with the hornworms and save his tomatoes. Ages: 4-8 years.

book_cover_Big_Red_and_the_Terrible_Tomato_Hornworm_Cynthia_Wylie

General Lessons & Activities:

Lessons and Activities

Ripe for the Searching

Louisiana Harvest of the Month word search. Use the word bank to find the hidden names of the harvest of the month items. Words can be going horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Weather STEM: Louisiana Climate

Weather STEM has a many electronic lessons connected to weather besides Louisiana Climate. This is a free resource during the COVID 19 pandemic.

North America Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC): Nature’s Partners Pollinators, Plants, and You – A comprehensive Pollinator Curriculum for grades 3-6

This 126-page curriculum is designed to educate young people about 1) pollinators and the important role they play in providing many of the foods we eat and the plant fiber used in our clothing and household goods, and 2) ways they can help pollinators survive and flourish by protecting and creating pollinator friendly habitat.

Louisiana Harvest of Month Taste Test Guide

Students are often reluctant to try new foods. Taste tests introduce new menu items in a way that increases familiarity with healthy food choices, involves the school community, and builds a culture of trying new foods. This guide discusses benefits of taste tests and tips for running a successful taste test.

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Compendium of Activities

This collection of lessons, books, and videos connected to Louisiana Student Standards was designed to teach your students about Harvest of the Month items.

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Materials and Resources

Louisiana K-12 schools and after-school programs can register for Louisiana Harvest of the Month free-of-charge at any point during the school year. Registered sites will receive a packet of printed materials including posters, Louisiana-grown produce seasonality charts, and "I Tried It" stickers. Resources for each Harvest of the Month can be found at this site including: posters, recipes, and templates. Just click on the fruit or vegetable link.

Florida Ag in the Classroom Resources

This site gives you links for their three curricula: Gardening for Nutrition, Gardening for Grades, STEMming Up Gardening. You can download these full-color curricula and/or request hardcopies of these resources. These beautiful teacher guides will arrive at your door in a week totally free of charge. There are links for Make and Take Activities that are quick activities that would be excellent for STEM family nights. At this site you can also search for lessons with a keyword. Also, this site includes links for several Florida Ag in the Classroom Activity Newspapers where you can download and request class sets.

Garden-Based Learning Distance Teaching Resources

This is a growing collection of online resources including lessons, videos, read-alouds, and videos.

Farm Bureau: My American Farm

My American Farm is an educational game platform used to engage students in American agriculture. This free site offers agriculturally-themed games and more than 100 free educator resources such as ag lesson plans, activity sheets and comics. Students will discover the amazing world of agriculture as you build farm equipment, create your own avatar, travel the country, and help organize the barn - and that's just the beginning. You'll enjoy playing these games, which reinforce core academic learning standards. Many games are also available in app form. Including the My American Farm App, the My American Farm - All About Beef App - The Ag Across America App and The My American Farm STEM app. These are all free to download.

General Lessons & Activities:

Videos and Other Resources

Youth Environmental Alliance, Cindy Davidson: Hydroponics in the Classroom Presentation for 2011 National Ag in the Classroom Conference

This presentation on Hydroponics in the Classroom includes:

Rationale,
History of Hydroponics,
Nutrient Basics,
PH Information,
Types of Systems,
Growing Media,
Lighting, and
Why We Teach Hydroponics.

USDA: Fruit and Vegetable Drawings

Beautiful full-color drawings of fruits and vegetables to display on a bulletin board or other places.

USDA: Fruit and Vegetable Blackline Masters

Blackline masters for students to color and display.

Pollination Partnership: Free Downloadable Signs:

12”x18” signs “Pollinator Garden” and “Pollinator Habitat” and a 14.35”x16” sign “WEEDS it’s the BEES KNEES!”

National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes

This free downloadable document outlines benchmarks related to agricultural literacy and academic achievement.

Lady Bird Wildflower Center: Exploring the Native Plant World – A Life Science Curriculum

In this 3-4 unit, students build on their knowledge of what plants must do to survive.

General Lessons & Activities:

Books

Math in the garden: Hands-on Activities that Bring Math to Life (2006)

Thirty-six standards-based lessons on math in the garden for ages 5-13. Through experiential learning activities, this book fosters growth in elementary and middle school-aged children.

The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun (2012)

The book features simple, practical gardening advice, including how to design a play-friendly garden, ideas for fun-filled theme gardens, and how to cook and preserve the garden's bounty.

Keeping a Nature Journal (2003)

Keeping a Nature Journal is full of engaging exercises and stimulating prompts that will help you hone your powers of observation and appreciate new aspects of nature’s endlessly varied beauty.

Outdoor Science Lab (2016)

52 family-friendly physics, chemistry, and biology labs designed to get you outside.

Gardening Projects for Kids (2012)

Fantastic ideas for making things, growing plants and flowers, and attracting wildlife to the garden, with 60 practical projects and 500 photographs.

Square Foot Gardening with Kids (2014)

The easy geometry of the gridded box breaks the complex world of gardening into digestible bites for enthusiastic young learners, and the sequence of tasks required to grow plants from seeds is repeatable and reassuring.

Botany on Your Plate: Investigating the Plants We Eat (2008)

Watch children's understanding of our world grow as they partake in hands-on activities that explore edible roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds through observation, dissection, journaling, discussion of findings, and, of course, tasting!

The Garden Classroom: Hands-On Activities in Math, Science, Literacy, and Art (2015)

Packed with garden-based activities that promote science, math, reading, writing, imaginative play, and arts and crafts, The Garden Classroom offers a whole year of outdoor play and learning ideas—however big or small your garden.

Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden (2014)

This fun and creative book features 52 plant-related activities set into weekly lessons, beginning with learning to read maps to find your heat zone, moving through seeds, soil, composting, and then creating garden art and appreciating your natural surroundings.

Worms Eat Our Garbage: Classroom Activities for a Better Environment (2003)

This book presents 150 worm-related classroom or home activities to help children in grades 4-8 develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Centered around a classroom worm bin, activities integrate science, mathematics, language arts, biology, solid waste issues, ecology, and the environment.

How to Grow a School Garden: A Complete Guide for Parents and Teachers (2010)

It's all here: developing the concept, planning, fund-raising, organizing, designing the space, preparing the site, working with parents and schools, teaching in the garden, planting, harvesting, and even cooking, with kid-friendly recipes and year-round activities.

Project Garden: A Month-by-Month Guide to Planting, Growing, and Enjoying ALL Your Backyard Has to Offer (2012)

Ideas to explore, innovate, and cultivate through simple projects that will get a garden growing at any time of year.

The Louisiana Urban Gardener: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Vegetables and Herbs (2017)

This book offers easy guidelines and useful tools to jump-start and maintain small yet bountiful gardens.