Activities for Pre-K - Seeds to Success

Beets & Carrots:

Lessons and Activities

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Carrots from Top to Bottom

In this sensory exploration lesson, children will use their sense of touch, taste, smell, and sight to compare the “tops” and “bottoms” of different carrot varieties. Carrot Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 2.1 AL 2: 2.2		CM 1: 4.1 CM 1: 4.7 CM 2: 4.2 CM 3: 4.1 CM 3: 4.2 CM 3: 4.4	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 1: 4.7 CS 3: 4.1		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Green Mountain Farm to School: Carrots

In this lesson students will develop an understanding of carrot anatomy and variety. Students can then prepare a dish using carrots or develop an artistic representation of the carrot anatomy that they have learned. (p. 27-29) Carrot Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 2.1 AL 2: 2.2			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Rainbow Crunch Salad

By creating a rainbow crunch salad, students will learn various ways that beets and carrots can be eaten. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to practice motor skills and coordination by preparing and combining ingredients to create a tasty treat.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2		CM 3: 4.3 CM 3: 4.4				PM 2: 4.1 PM 4: 4.2

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Colorful Beets, Inside and Out

In this sensory exploration lesson, children will use their senses and scientific inquiry skills to predict, observe, describe and compare beets. Beet Images

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2		CM 2: 4.1	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.4		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Beets & Carrots:

Books

Giant Carrot by Allan Manham (2011)

When brilliant gardener Jack tries to pull up a giant carrot he gets more than he bargained for, but luckily all his friends are on hand to help. Join in the fun in this deliciously bright and quirky twist on a favorite story.

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

Carrots by Inez Snyder (2004)

Introduces the carrot, from the time it begins to grow from a seed until it is eaten.

Carrot Soup by John Segal (2006)

Take one rabbit, patiently growing carrots. Add his friends -- Mole, Dog, Cat, Duck, and Pig. Mix all ingredients together for a superdelicious surprise!

Blueberries:

Lessons and Activities

Arizona Department of Education: Blueberry Nutrition Education Toolkit

Students will learn about blueberries as members of the fruit food group. Teachers can select from a variety of activities to help students explore this tasty fruit! Blueberry Handout Blueberry Powerpoint

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 4: 4.2		CM 1: 4.1 CM 1: 4.7 CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.6 CS 3: 4.6		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.6 LL 1: 4.1	PM 2: 4.1 PM 2: 4.2 PM 4: 4.1 PM 4: 4.2	SE 1: 4.6 SE 3: 4.2 SE 5: 4.1 SE 5: 4.2 SE 5: 4.3

Berry Ink Painting

Take a step back in time and allow students to create their own watercolor paints using berry juice! This lesson can be used to teach ratios as students mix water and different types of berry juice to create new colors!

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 2: 4.1 AL 3: 4.3	CC 2: 4.3	CM 3: 4.4	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.3 CS 1: 4.5 CS 1: 4.6			PM 2: 4.1 PM 2: 4.2	SE 1: 4.6 SE 3: 4.2 SE 3: 4.3 SE 5: 4.1 SE 5: 4.2 SE 5: 4.3

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Berries- Fresh, Frozen, Dried, and Jam

Students will explore four different forms of berries: frozen, fresh, dried, and jam. Students will use their senses to compare and contrast the different ways to preserve and prepare berries.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 2.1 AL 2: 2.2			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Blueberries:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Blueberries (12:01)

This month's Louisiana Harvest of the Month is native only to North America and their origin goes all the way back to the Ice Age. It’s BLUEBERRIES! Nicknamed the “star berry,” the blueberries’ wild cousins were a delicacy, even gracing the first Thanksgiving table. No matter how you serve them, blueberries take center stage in many tasty treats, and today, we are going to Cockeyed Farms to find out just what makes the blueberry the star of the show!

Blueberries:

Books

Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky (2014

Summertime means fresh veggies at the farm stand to pick out and count! This concept book follows a family's stop at the farm stand as they count tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers―and yes, ears of corn.

Wild Berries by Julie Flett (2014)

Spend the day picking wild blueberries with Clarence and his grandmother. Meet ant, spider, and fox in a beautiful woodland andscape, the ancestral home of author and illustrator Julie Flett. This book is written in both Enlglish and Cree, in particular the n-dialect, also known as Swampy Cree from the Cumberland House area.

The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons (2016)

Berries, apples, melons, and grapes; oranges, grapefruits, bananas -- yum! This scrumptious picture book, a companion to The Vegetables We Eat, offers youngsters an inviting, information-packed cornucopia of favorite fruits.

More Blueberries! by Susan Musgrave (2015)

These young twins can't get enough of their favorite snack―and they aren't the only ones! With playful rhyming text from award-winning poet Susan Musgrave and gorgeous illustrations by Esperança Melo, this exuberant board book will delight little ones and have everyone happily shouting, "More blueberries!"

Broccoli & Cauliflower:

Lessons and Activities

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Investigating Florets

Using two to three different varieties of cauliflower (white, orange, purple, or green), students will explore similarities and differences between cauliflower varieties. Students will use scientific inquiry skills to predict, observe, describe, and compare the amount of florets each head of cauliflower contains. Cauliflower Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 1: 4.7 CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

SDSU Extension: Vote for Broccoli

Students will explore different ways broccoli is commonly prepared. Students will then discuss and vote on their favorite ways to eat broccoli. This lesson is a great way for students to share cultural differences and compare how their families prepare and consume broccoli.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1			CS 1: 4.6	CSS 4: 4.1	LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Green Mountain Farm-to-School: Broccoli and Cauliflower Forest

Students will use cauliflower and broccoli to create a forest background—either with pre-printed broccoli/cauliflower coloring sheets or cut pieces of broccoli/cauliflower serving as stamps. Students can then collaboratively predict what types of plants and animals will live in their forest, adding those organisms to their forest mural.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 2.1 AL 2: 2.2	AL 2: 4.3		CS 1: 4.4		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Broccoli & Cauliflower:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Broccoli Activity Sheet

Students can connect the dots from numbers 1 to 77 to complete a picture of broccoli

Cabbage:

Lessons and Activities

Growing Minds: Cabbage Exploration

In this lesson, students will compare heads of red and green cabbage. This is an excellent opportunity for students to practice identifying similarities and differences in size, shape, and weights. This lesson provides pictures needed to create an accordion-style book that illustrates the different stages of cabbage growth.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 1: 4.7	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Cabbage Layers

In this sensory lesson, students will explore heads of cabbage. Each student will have the opportunity to observe how the layers of leaves are arranged to form a full head of cabbage. Once leaves are separated, students will be able to compare leaf size in order to arrange them from smallest to largest. Cabbage Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 1: 4.7	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Catfish:

Videos and Other Resources

TackleShare: All About Channel Catfish (6:17)

All About Channel Catfish - Identification, Habitat, Spawning, Diet, Age & Size, Fishing Tips

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Catfish (11:03)

This month's Louisiana Harvest of the Month thrives in the muddy waters of the southern region of the United States, and it holds a humble yet essential piece of our culinary history here in the South. It's catfish! In the past, eating catfish was a social experience, where they were caught wild, prepared, and eaten together as a group. Now, most of the catfish we eat are farmed from ponds like the one we'll see today. Join me and let's learn a little more about how the catfish hooked America.

Catfish:

Books

A Million Fish… More or Less by Patricia McKissack Dragonfly (1992)

In an original yarn of the Louisiana bayou, McKissack honors the tradition of bragging about the one that got away. Hugh Thomas hears that strange things happen on the Bayou Clapateaux, but he is skeptical--until he invents a fish story of his own.

Facts About the Blue Catfish by Lisa Strattin (2016)

This is a nonfiction book that provides facts along with photographs to instruct children about the Blue Catfish.

Catfish Clues: What is a Fish? By Linda Ayers, Nicola O’Byrne, Drew Temperante (2019)

This is a story about a catfish who wants to know why he is different from the rest of his underwater friends. Throughout the book he discovers the characteristics of catfish, sharks, and other fish that make each unique.

Citrus:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Citrus

This month's Louisiana Harvest of The Month is a juicy sweet fruit high in vitamin C and enjoyed any time of the day. It's citrus! Let's unpeel this refreshing fruit, a crop that has been grown in Louisiana for over 300 years.

Citrus:

Books

Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins (2012)

A lemonade stand in winter? Yes, that's exactly what Pauline and John-John intend to have, selling lemonade and limeade--and also lemon-limeade. With a catchy refrain (Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LIMEADE! Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LEMONADE!), plus simple math concepts throughout, here is a read-aloud that's great for storytime and classroom use,

The Red Lemon by Bob Staake (2012)

Farmer McPhee isn't ready for what he's about to discover among his cherished bright yellow fruits . . . a red lemon!

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett (2007)

This book sweet illustrations but contains only five words: apple, pear, orange, bear--and there. Emily Gravett creates clever variations on this theme by rearranging the words--on one spread, a brown bear juggles an orange, apple, and pear; on another spread, there is an orange-colored apple and a pear-shaped bear. Simple and compelling, children will enjoy reading this book over and over again as they learn many different concepts.

Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds (2007)

In this story, the animals on the Nuthatcher’s farm are tired of eating the same thing every day. One day, the rooster watches a cooking show and learns to make a delicious salsa that stops everyone’s grumbling. After reading this book with your students, try making a batch of springtime strawberry salsa or traditional tomato-based salsa with your children

The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons (2016)

Berries, apples, melons, and grapes; oranges, grapefruits, bananas -- yum! This scrumptious picture book, a companion to The Vegetables We Eat, offers youngsters an inviting, information-packed cornucopia of favorite fruits.

Crawfish:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Crawfish (13:05)

This Harvest of the Month never backs down from a fight, always raising its claws, holding its ground instead. For Louisianans, this savory crustacean is woven into our culture and traditions...it’s crawfish! Join us as Burt Tietje of Tallgrass Farms shows us how crawfish are harvested from the farm to your dinner table! Learn more about how this tiny creature makes a big splash in Louisiana aquaculture.

Ag in the Classroom: Crawfish Color Page

Moby Pincher’s Place

A former educator, Dee Scallan has always been passionate about knowledge and strives to inspire a love of learning in children across the state. Through her tales of Moby Pincher, illustrated by one of her students when he was 8 years old, Dee teaches children about the geography and science of Louisiana. She encourages children to create and illustrate their own stories.

Cucumber:

Lessons and Activities

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:

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2 AL 3: 4.3 AL 4: 4.2		CM 1: 4.1 CM 1: 4.3 CM 3: 4.1	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6	CSS 3: 4.1 CSS 3: 4.2 CSS 3: 4.4	LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.5 LL 2: 4.1		SE 5: 4.2

Growing Minds: Cucumber Exploration

Students will explore cucumbers and how they grow. This lesson facilitates opportunities for students to explore both different varieties of cucumbers and the gourd family at large. Students are able to examine slices of cucumbers, reporting out their notable findings to the group. Examples of cucumber plants growing

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Judy Newman at Scholastic: Teaching the Senses with Refrigerator Pickles

In this week-long lesson, students learn about the five senses, and then use their senses to observe how cucumbers can be transformed into pickles. This is a great lesson for students to practice fine motor skills if they are allowed to help measure and mix ingredients for the pickling liquid. Each day, students observe how the cucumbers are changing, culminating in a pickle observation and taste-test on Friday.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Cucumber:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Cucumbers (11:13)

This month's Louisiana Harvest of the Month is not only refreshing to eat, but people have been relying on them for centuries for things like soothing sunburns, hydrating skin, and even curing bad breath. It's cucumbers! These crispy fruits add crunch to salads and sandwiches, and they're often enjoyed preserved as pickles. Let's head to the farm to learn a little bit more about what makes a cucumber such a big deal!

Cucumber:

Books

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

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

Eggplant:

Lessons and Activities

OSU Healthy Youth Program: Plant Parts We Eat

Although designated as a kindergarten lesson, this activity can easily be scaled to be used in the pre-k classroom, allowing students to work in small-groups or facilitating the lesson as a whole-group discussion. Through this lesson, students will sort commonly eaten fruit and vegetables into categories based upon the part of the plant that is eaten. Prior to attempting this lesson, students must have a clear understanding of the parts of a plant (root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seeds). It is recommended that you use the attached images below. Extra Plants Part Images

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2			LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Eggplant:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Eggplants (11:26)

This month's Louisiana Harvest of the Month just might be the most mysterious of all the vegetables. In many parts of the world it's called an Aubergine but it's even known as the king of vegetables. It's eggplant! Early varieties were white oval fruits that looked a lot like chicken eggs, which is how the eggplant originally got its name. What else is this mystery vegetable hiding? Let's head to the farm to find out what other secrets we can reveal about this ancient plant.

Eggplant:

Books

Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky (2014

Summertime means fresh veggies at the farm stand to pick out and count! This concept book follows a family's stop at the farm stand as they count tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers―and yes, ears of corn.

Leafy Greens:

Lessons and Activities

Grow It, Try It, Like It!: An Adventure Stems from Learning About Spinach

Through three activities, students will identify spinach as a lightweight, green leaf vegetable, and describe the appearance, smell, and taste of spinach.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1					LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Leafy Greens:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Leafy Greens Activity Sheet

Students add leafy greens together and then practice tracing the number of greens counted.

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Greens (10:53)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month is a staple in southern cooking. It's greens! Check out our video to learn a little more about what makes greens so special!

Leafy Greens:

Books

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

A Feast for Joseph by Terry Farish and OD Bonny (2021)

Joseph misses sharing meals with lots of people like he did back in the refugee camp, so when the neighbors finally come over, it’s a feast! A touching story about adjusting to a new home and the pleasure of cooking and sharing food with friends.

I Love Greens by Victoria Boutenko (2012)

I Love Greens is an elegantly illustrated book that tenderly teaches toddlers about the importance of eating healthy.

Mimi’s Strategy: What to do when the vegetables are green by Linda Goudsmit (2020)

Hildy does NOT like green vegetables, and every night at dinnertime she is expected to eat the green vegetables on her plate. What is Hildy supposed to do?

The Marvelous Mustard Seed by Amy-Jill Levine (2018)

Discover the surprising potential of one small seed in The Marvelous Mustard Seed. Based on Jesus’ parable of the Mustard Seed, this inspiring children’s book shows young readers that one tiny seed—just like one small child—carries a world of potential. The Marvelous Mustard Seed features ethnically diverse characters, and it is ideal for children ages 4-8. A special note for parents and teachers is included.

Lettuce:

Lessons and Activities

Gardening for Grades: Lettuce Be Different

Although designated as a K-6 lesson, this can easily be paired down for pre-k students. In this lesson, students begin by comparing their own similarities and differences. They then compare, sow, and grow seeds of different lettuce varieties. If you do not have time to grow lettuce, students can observe similarities and differences in different lettuce varieties found at your local grocery store.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1			CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.2 CS 3: 4.3 CS 3: 4.5 CS 3: 4.6 CS 3: 4.7	CSS 2: 4.1	LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Lettuce:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Lettuce (13:04)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month is made up of 95% water and is used as toppings on things as tacos and sandwiches but it also tasty on its own. It’s lettuce! Let us learn a little bit more about the second most popular vegetable in the United States.

Lettuce:

Books

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

Mushrooms:

Lessons and Activities

Mushrooms in Schools: Classifying Mushrooms

This lesson provides students the chance to use their five senses to discover the main parts of mushrooms and then describe the characteristics of different mushroom types. Using their knowledge of mushroom anatomy, students will construct a clay model of a their favorite type mushroom and then label the major parts of that mushroom. Classifying Mushrooms PowerPoint

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1	AL 2: 4.3	CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.1 CS 3: 4.6 CS 3: 4.7		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Mushrooms in Schools: How Do Mushrooms Grow?

In this exploratory lesson, students will observe how mushrooms are grown on a farm. Students will identify the parts of a mushroom and explain why mushrooms are good for our bodies.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1					LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Mushrooms:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Mushroom Activity Sheet

Students can practice tracing the letter M and then color mushrooms!

American Mushroom Institute: Fun with Fungi Coloring Sheets

This coloring book features images of cultivated mushrooms grown in the United States, produced by the American Mushroom Institute for students everywhere.

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Mushrooms (10:22)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month is not a plant or an animal. It’s often mistakenly called a vegetable, but it is actually the fruit of a fungus. It’s mushrooms! These tasty toadstools prefer to grow in the dark. In fact, they require no sunlight at all, but today we're going to shed some light on what it takes to get these meaty, nutritious mushrooms from the farm to your fork.

Melon & Watermelon:

Lessons and Activities

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:

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2 AL 3: 4.3 AL 4: 4.2		CM 1: 4.1 CM 1: 4.3 CM 3: 4.1	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6	CSS 3: 4.1 CSS 3: 4.2 CSS 3: 4.4	LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.5 LL 2: 4.1		SE 5: 4.2

Growing Minds: Melon Exploration

As students learn about different types of local melons (cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew), they will used their senses and scientific skills to make predictions, explore the components of their environment, and understand that many fruits come in lots of varieties.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 1: 4.7	CS 1: 4.4		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Grow It, Try It, Like It!: Can You Tell Me About Cantaloupe?

This lesson walks students through two different activities, exploring both the outside and inside characteristics of a cantaloupe. Students will work on using descriptive words to explain the physical characteristics of a cantaloupe

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1			CS 1: 4.1 CS 3: 4.1		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Investigating Seeds

Students will use their scientific inquiry skills to predict, observe, describe and compare melons grown in Louisiana. After observing whole melons, students will then be able to harvest seeds from the fruits, observing how seed size, shape, and spacing/grouping throughout the fruits may vary. Melon Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.3 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6 CS 3: 4.7		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Melon & Watermelon:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Watermelon (11:51)

This month's Louisiana Harvest of the Month was so loved by American writer, Mark Twain, that he declared, “when you taste it you know what the angels eat,” and it is a heavenly treat on a hot summer day. It’s watermelon! Louisiana is known to grow some of the sweetest varieties of watermelon, so today we are in Washington Parish at Perry Talley’s farm to learn a little bit more about this angelic fruit.

Melon & Watermelon:

Books

Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky (2014

Summertime means fresh veggies at the farm stand to pick out and count! This concept book follows a family's stop at the farm stand as they count tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers―and yes, ears of corn.

The Donkey Egg by Janey Stevens (2019)

Bear would rather sleep all day than work on his farm, and Fox knows just the kind of help he needs—a donkey! When Fox tricks Bear into buying a donkey egg, Bear can't wait for it to hatch so he can meet his new friend. But donkeys don't come from eggs! And when the "egg" finally opens, Bear gets a fruity surprise. Luckily, Bear doesn't have to face disappointment alone . . . Hare is there to help!

The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons (2016)

Berries, apples, melons, and grapes; oranges, grapefruits, bananas -- yum! This scrumptious picture book, a companion to The Vegetables We Eat, offers youngsters an inviting, information-packed cornucopia of favorite fruits.

Radish:

Lessons and Activities

Growing Minds: Colorful Plate Spinners

Students will used their color identification and grouping skills to create a colorful spinner collage of fruits and vegetables that people eat as part of a healthy diet.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.3 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2				PM 2: 4.1

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Big Roots, Little Roots, Skinny Roots, Round Roots

In this sensory lesson, students will use their senses to describe the similarities and differences of an assortment of root vegetables. Root Vegetable Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2 CM 1: 4.7	CS 1: 4.4		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Radish:

Books

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

Rosita and the Night of the Radishes by Dorothy Thurgood Manning (2016)

Young Rosita competes in Oaxaca, Mexico's radish carving contest which is held every December 23rd. She hopes to win first prize and use the money to help her family's failing farm.

Rice:

Lessons and Activities

Pilot Light: Growing and Eating Food Around the World- The Story of Rice

Students will learn about food sources and origins by investigating how rice is grown around the world and eaten in different ways in various locations and cultures and identifying a rice dish that they have eaten before and where they ate it.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1	CC 2: 4.3				LL 4: 4.1 LL 4: 4.3 LL 4: 4.7		SE 1: 4.4

Focus on the Family: Rice Art Mosaics

Have you ever seen a mosaic at a museum? Artists take small pieces of broken tile and arrange them to make beautiful designs. With a little imagination, you can create your own mosaics using materials from your kitchen.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 4: 3.1 AL 4: 4.1	CC 2: 3.3 CC 2: 4.3

Rice:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Rice (12:27)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month has a long history in Louisiana, although it is not native here. It is actually one of several contributions brought from West Africa to the Southern table. It’s rice! Rice is an essential ingredient in Cajun cuisine, such as gumbo, jambalaya, etouffee, and boudin. Join me, here in Acadia Parish, as we uncover the grains of truth behind this simple, hearty dish.

MN Ag in the Classroom Harvest of the Month: Wild Rice (4:56)

Wild rice is a staple in Minnesota. Watch how the White Earth Reservation in Naytahwuash, Minnesota shows how important wild rice is to the Ojibwe tribe. Logan Cloud shows the process of rice parching and finishing.

TinkerLab: Make Colored Rice

Make your own colored rice for an afternoon of sensory play or for filling clear jars with layers of rainbow rice

Think Rice Coloring Book

Appropriate for ages 2 – 6, this coloring activity tells the farm-to-table story of U.S.-grown rice. Kids are able to color different scenes from the rice farm and learn about the lifecycle of rice by season. They also learn where rice is grown and how rice makes its way table where they can color in a family making dinner and draw a healthy MyPlate dish with rice.

Rice:

Books

Let’s go Nuts (Seeds We Eat) by April Sayre (2013)

What do nuts, beans, grains, and even some spices have in common? They’re all seeds—seeds we can eat! So get ready to greet lentils and limas, take a crack at coconuts and cashews, and say hi to rye and buckwheat. You’ll soon be seeing seeds in a whole new way!

Chef Creole by Johnette Downing(2008)

There was a man from New Orleans and his name was Chef Creole. His hair was made of rice, his eyes of red beans, and his feet of beignets. Young readers will delight in this Louisiana picture-book adaptation of the song Aiken Drum.

The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (2021)

Sing along to this delicious twist on "The Wheels on the Bus" and celebrate the food, laughter, and love of a multigenerational family meal!

The Kid Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews (2014)

This book tells the story of Nobel Laureate, Norman Borlaug. Norman grew up as an average farm boy in Iowa, but later his work as a plant scientist reached far and wide to help improve the growth of wheat, rice, and corn all over the world. This book highlights the benefits of emerging science, but also has an underlying message to teach kids that, "Every choice you make, good or bad, can make a difference."

One Grain of Rice by Demi (1997)

A mathematical folktale illustrating the concept of doubling using rice as the example.

Red Beans & Rice by Jeanette Weiland (2020)

Red Beans & Rice is a lively read, encompassing multiple characters, with hand-drawn typography highlighting the children’s voices. Young readers will enjoy spotting hidden treasures throughout the pages along with the creatures and critters that share a home in this delicious region of Louisiana. Aspiring chefs will appreciate the extras, including a kid-friendly red beans and rice recipe from restauranteur Dickie Brennan and a vegan version of the dish by Sweet Potato Soul author and blogger, Jenné Claiborne, among others.

Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley (1991)

In this multicultural picture book, Carrie goes from one neighbor's house to the next looking for her brother, who is late for dinner. She discovers that although each family is from a different country, everyone makes a rice dish at dinnertime. Readers will enjoy trying the simple recipes that correspond to each family's unique rice dish.

Shrimp:

Books

Three Little Shrimp by J. Steven Spires (2017)

Dive into crystal blue waters to follow three very curious little shrimp as they explore beneath the surface. Dangers surround them--egrets, red fish, and a loggerhead turtle all love eating shrimp! Even the fisherman's net is out to capture them. When the little shrimp venture out of their troupe they find more than they expected in this entertaining and educational adventure for beginning readers. This updated edition provides beginning readers and teachers up-to-date information on this curious crustacean in "The Amazing Shrimp" page packed with definitions, statistics, and "you won't believe it" facts about shrimp.

Giovanni & Scampi by Aaron T. Watene (2010)

This is the story of an incredibly unique shrimp and his experience with a local fisherman who learns an important lesson to be exactly who you are. Scampi also learns to be humble while making a good friend.

Snap Beans:

Lessons and Activities

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Dried, Sprouted, Cooked, and More!

Students can compare the feel, taste, and appearance of an assortment of beans. Students will also compare dried, cooked, and sprouted beans of the same variety. Bean Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Sprouting Beans

In this exploration, students sprout their own bean plants. Students can make predictions about how plants grow from beans and how quickly the process occurs. Once seeds sprout, students will be able to measure and track how much the beans grow. This lesson pairs well as a pre-cursor to “Dried, Sprouted, Cooked, and More!” Bean Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 3: 4.3 CM 3: 4.4	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.5 CS 3: 4.6		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Growing Minds: Seed Exploration

This is a great lesson to give students an opportunity to explore bean seeds up-close. After using their powers of observations to compare dry and soaked lima beans, students will construct germination environments for their soaked beans. If time permits, students can explore and count seeds in other fruits and/or try to match seeds to the fruit that produced them.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 3: 4.3 CM 3: 4.4	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.5 CS 3: 4.6		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Snap Beans:

Books

Let’s go Nuts (Seeds We Eat) by April Sayre (2013)

What do nuts, beans, grains, and even some spices have in common? They’re all seeds—seeds we can eat! So get ready to greet lentils and limas, take a crack at coconuts and cashews, and say hi to rye and buckwheat. You’ll soon be seeing seeds in a whole new way!

First Peas to the Table: How Thomas Jefferson Inspired a School Garden by Susan Grigsby (2012)

Maya loves contests, so she is excited when her teacher announces they will plant a school garden like Thomas Jefferson's garden at Monticello―and they'll have a "First Peas to the Table" contest, just like Jefferson and his neighbors had each spring. Maya plants her pea seeds with a secret head start―found in Jefferson’s Garden Book―and keeps careful notes in her garden journal. But her friend Shakayla has plans of her own for the contest

Squash:

Lessons and Activities

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:

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2 AL 3: 4.3 AL 4: 4.2		CM 1: 4.1 CM 1: 4.3 CM 3: 4.1	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6	CSS 3: 4.1 CSS 3: 4.2 CSS 3: 4.4	LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.5 LL 2: 4.1		SE 5: 4.2

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Investigating Seeds

Children will use their scientific inquiry skills to predict, observe, and describe similarities and differences among a variety of winter squashes—both internally and externally. Winter Squash Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.3 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6 CS 3: 4.7		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Early Science Matters: Squash and Pumpkins

Using squash and pumpkins, students will compare the physical properties of fruits and their seeds. Prior to opening a squash and a pumpkin, students are invited to make predictions regarding what will be inside the gourds.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 2: 4.2	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.1 LL 2: 4.2

Squash:

Videos and Other Resources

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Winter Squash (11:08)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month was so vital to the early settlers of our country, that they may not have survived without it during those harsh New England winters. Today they are every part of our autumn celebrations. It’s winter squash! The indigenous people of that time taught us all that we know and love about pumpkins, squash and gourds. This is Chenier Farms, where they’re going squash our curiosity on how this crop is grown, harvested, and prepared into a cornucopia of treats!

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Summer Squash (10:41)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month comes in all sorts of beautiful sizes and colors and its name celebrates, probably your favorite season. It’s summer squash! There are some many interesting things to know about this amazing group of vegetables. Let’s head out to the farm to find out more!

Allotment Diary: Zucchini Growing Time-Lapse (1:20)

This video shows a zucchini plant growing and flowering during 5 days of filming.

Squash:

Books

Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky (2014

Summertime means fresh veggies at the farm stand to pick out and count! This concept book follows a family's stop at the farm stand as they count tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers―and yes, ears of corn.

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll (1993)

Once there were two mice who fell in love with the same pumpkin....Desmond the field mouse wants to carve the biggest jack-o'-lantern in the neighborhood with his pumpkin. Clayton the house mouse wants to win the Biggest Pumpkin contest with his. But when they discover that their choice pumpkins are actually the same one, Desmond and Clayton decide to work together to grow the biggest pumpkin ever!

Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington (1990)

Jamie plants a pumpkin seed in the spring and, after watching it grow all summer, carves a face in it for Halloween! But best of all, he saves some seeds that he will plant again next spring.

From Seed to Pumpkin: A Fall Book for Kids by Wendy Pfeffer (2015)

Read and find out about how pumpkins grow from a tiny yellow seed to a pumpkin in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

Let’s Explore Pumpkins! (Food Field Trips) by Jill Colella (2020)

Many people use pumpkins for fall decorating. But pumpkin is also delicious in soup, pasta, muffins, and of course pies! See how pumpkins grow, learn what is inside of pumpkins, make pumpkin soup, and create a pumpkin squirrel feeder.

Runaway Pumpkins by Teresa Bateman (2020)

The old adage of "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade" is reborn with pumpkins! When a bumpy road and a faulty bus storage lock release a load of handpicked pumpkins back into the wild, the students on a field trip are left with a single pumpkin. Pluckily, they decide to take what they have and do what they can. Together they decorate the only surviving pumpkin for their harvest fair. But good fortune comes knocking the next day when a group of kind neighbors arrives at the school. They found the smashed pumpkins and turned them into celebratory seasonal fare, perfect for sharing: yummy soup, cake, pie, and even fries!

We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Hogan Wilcox (2020)

A spooky nighttime hunt for the biggest pumpkin in town results in a fright but also a great adventure. Laugh out loud at the sweet silliness and be heartened to know you might not be the only scaredy cat...er, mouse...in the pumpkin patch. The perfect read aloud for fall and Halloween fun.

Daniel Visits a Pumpkin Patch by Maggie Testa (2021)

Daniel Tiger is visiting a pumpkin patch with his family and friends. The best part is, Mom and Dad Tiger told him he could pick out a pumpkin to bring home. Once they get to the patch, there are so many pumpkins to choose from—some are very small and some are very large. Will Daniel find the perfect one?

Sophie’s Squash Go to School by Pat Zietlow Miller (2016)

On Sophie’s first day of school, nobody appreciates her two best friends, Bonnie and Baxter, baby squash that she grew in her garden. Even worse, one classmate, Steven Green, won’t leave Sophie alone. He sits by her at circle time. He plays near her during recess. And he breathes on her while she paints. Steven just wants to be friends, but Sophie isn’t interested. Still, Sophie knows that her squash friends won’t last forever. Maybe it would be nice to have some human friends after all. . . .

Benji and the 24 Pound Banana Squash by Alan C. Fox (2017)

Benji has made up his mind: he's going to grow the biggest banana squash ever from the tiny seeds he saved last summer. In spring, when the soil is soft, he plants the seeds, waters them, waits, waters them and waits. Will his dream come true?

Strawberries:

Lessons and Activities

Berry Ink Painting

Take a step back in time and allow students to create their own watercolor paints using berry juice! This lesson can be used to teach ratios as students mix water and different types of berry juice to create new colors!

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 2: 4.1 AL 3: 4.3	CC 2: 4.3	CM 3: 4.4	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.3 CS 1: 4.5 CS 1: 4.6			PM 2: 4.1 PM 2: 4.2	SE 1: 4.6 SE 3: 4.2 SE 3: 4.3 SE 5: 4.1 SE 5: 4.2 SE 5: 4.3

Grow It, Try It, Like It!: Strawberry… Where Do You Come From?

Through three planting activities, students will identify the strawberry plant seeds and describe the resources needed to grow strawberries. Students will design their own pretend strawberry patch as a class and also have the opportunity to plant a real strawberry starter so that they may observe how fruit is produced by the plant.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2			CS 1: 3.1 CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Grow It, Try It, Like It!: Getting to Know Strawberries

Through three mini-activities, students will identify the physical characteristics of strawberries. Food safety will be modeled as students observe teachers wash and cut-open the fruits in order for learners to observe the internal structure of the fruits. Fruit can then be used to create a special treat.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2	CC 2: 4.3				LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 4: 4.1

Harvest for Healthy Kids: Berries- Fresh, Frozen, Dried, and Jam

Students will explore four different forms of berries: frozen, fresh, dried, and jam. Students will use their senses to compare and contrast the different ways to preserve and prepare berries.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 2.1 AL 2: 2.2			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

Strawberries:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Strawberry Activity Sheet

Students connect the dots from A to Z to complete a picture of a strawberry.

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Strawberries (10:50)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month is grown in every U.S. state and every Canadian providence. It became the official Louisiana state fruit in 1980 and it’s celebrated each year at its very own festival in Ponchatoula. It’s strawberries! Join me and let’s learn a little more about what makes this fruit the berry best!

Strawberries:

Books

Spring is for Strawberries by Katherine Pryor (2023)

There’s nothing like the sounds and smells of the first farmers market of the year. The sweetness of fresh fruits and local vegetables permeates the air and breathes new life into our recipes just as the spring brings new life to the earth. This illustrated tale follows the budding friendship between two girls who meet at their local farmers market and reminds us that food is the great unifier of all humankind.

Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds (2007)

In this story, the animals on the Nuthatcher’s farm are tired of eating the same thing every day. One day, the rooster watches a cooking show and learns to make a delicious salsa that stops everyone’s grumbling. After reading this book with your students, try making a batch of springtime strawberry salsa or traditional tomato-based salsa with your children

Cook-a-doodle-doo! By Janet Stevens (2005)

Big Brown Rooster is sick of chicken feed. So along with his friends--Turtle, Iguana, and Potbellied Pig--he sets out to make the most magnificent strawberry shortcake in the whole wide world. But there’s one problem: none of his friends knows how to cook! The team bravely forges ahead, and with Rooster’s help, they learn how to measure flour (not with a ruler) and how to beat an egg (not with a baseball bat). But can they keep Pig from gobbling up all the ingredients?

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka, and the Strawberries by Maj Lindman (2013)

Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka are going wild-strawberry picking. Mother is going to pay them for every basket they gather. When they stop at a cottage along the way, they meet Mary, her baby brother, and Mary's mother. Mary and her family are very kind, but have patches on their clothes and no milk to drink. After the girls get home and help Mother make strawberry jam, they think of a special way to spend the money they have earned.

Let’s Explore Strawberries by Jill Colella (2020)

Did you know that if you pick a green strawberry, it will never ripen and turn red? Visit a berry farm to see how strawberries grow. Then follow simple recipes to make Strawberry Smoothies and Chocolate Covered Fruit Pops.

The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons (2016)

Berries, apples, melons, and grapes; oranges, grapefruits, bananas -- yum! This scrumptious picture book, a companion to The Vegetables We Eat, offers youngsters an inviting, information-packed cornucopia of favorite fruits.

Sweet Corn:

Lessons and Activities

iheartcraftythings: Corn Counting Activity

Students will practice counting, recognizing numbers, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills in this corn-inspired activity.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 2: 4.1 AL 4: 4.1		CM 1: 3.1 CM 1: 4.5 CM 1: 4.6

Sweet Corn:

Books

Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky (2014

Summertime means fresh veggies at the farm stand to pick out and count! This concept book follows a family's stop at the farm stand as they count tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers―and yes, ears of corn.

Sweet Peppers:

Lessons and Activities

Seeds to Success: Pepper Problems

These three worksheets walk students through counting and identifying the number of peppers in a group, simple addition, and simple subtraction.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
		CM1 : 4.1 CM1 : 4.2 CM1 : 4.3 CM1 : 4.4 CM1 : 4.5 CM1 : 4.6 CM2 : 4.3

Sweet Peppers:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Peppers Activity Sheet

Students can count the number of peppers in a pyramid before coloring the bell peppers they see!

Sweet Peppers:

Books

Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds (2007)

In this story, the animals on the Nuthatcher’s farm are tired of eating the same thing every day. One day, the rooster watches a cooking show and learns to make a delicious salsa that stops everyone’s grumbling. After reading this book with your students, try making a batch of springtime strawberry salsa or traditional tomato-based salsa with your children

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

Sweet Potatoes:

Lessons and Activities

Harvest for Healthy Kids: One Potato, Two Potato, Sweet Potato, Plain Potato

In this exploratory lesson, students are invited to compare sweet potatoes and regular potatoes. Students will observe external and internal physical differences as well as taste differences between the two. This lesson can be easily adapted to incorporate different varieties of potatoes, both sweet and not. Sweet Potato Pictures Potato Pictures

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.3 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6 CS 3: 4.7		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Georgia Harvest of the Month: Grow Your Own Sweet Potato Vine!

This activity allows students to observe how a sweet potato vine grows. Students are able to make predictions about how the plant will grown and the speed with which that growth will occur. This is a long-term project in which students are encouraged to make predictions and record their observations as time passes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2 CS 1: 4.3 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 3: 4.1 CS 3: 4.2 CS 3: 4.6 CS 3: 4.7		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Pre-K Pages: Sprouting Sweet Potatoes

Directions on how to sprout sweet potatoes.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 4: 4.2			CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.4 CS 1: 4.5 CS 1: 4.7 CS3: 4.1 CS3: 4.3 CS3: 4.6

Sweet Potatoes:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Sweet Potatoes Activity Sheet

Have students count and then connect amounts of sweet potatoes to the correct number.

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Sweet Potatoes (10:12)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month was grown by our nation’s first president, George Washington. It’s a root but its leaves are also edible. Have you guessed it? It’s sweet potatoes! Now let’s learn a little bit more about the sweet potato, a vegetable with a history as colorful as its bright orange flesh.

Tomatoes:

Lessons and Activities

Growing Minds: Tomato Exploration

Through this exploration lesson, students will gain a familiarity of different tomato varieties. Students will come to understand that different varieties of the same produce type can look and taste very different.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2		CM 2: 4.2			LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2

Florida Tomatoes: Preschool Tomato Activities

This resource contains tomato-focused activities that reinforce math, science, ELA, health, and social studies skills for preschool students.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2 AL 2: 4.3		CM 1: 4.4	CS 1: 4.1 CS 1: 4.2		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2 LL 5: 4.4	PM 4: 4.2

Tomatoes:

Videos and Other Resources

Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month: Tomato Activity Sheet

Students can color a playful tomato scene. How many tomatoes can you find?

Louisiana Harvest of the Month Video Series: Tomatoes (10:08)

This month’s Louisiana Harvest of the Month was legally designated as a vegetable over a 100 years ago in the United States; although, it is botanically classified as a fruit. Now it is the third most popular vegetable in the United States. It’s tomatoes! No matter how you slice it, the tomato is a delicious treat and so much fun to grow!

Tomatoes:

Books

Cheers for a Dozen Ears by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky (2014

Summertime means fresh veggies at the farm stand to pick out and count! This concept book follows a family's stop at the farm stand as they count tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers―and yes, ears of corn.

Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds (2007)

In this story, the animals on the Nuthatcher’s farm are tired of eating the same thing every day. One day, the rooster watches a cooking show and learns to make a delicious salsa that stops everyone’s grumbling. After reading this book with your students, try making a batch of springtime strawberry salsa or traditional tomato-based salsa with your children

Let’s Explore Tomatoes! by Jill Colella (2021)

Ripe, juicy tomatoes are a delicious summer treat! Young readers will follow how tomatoes are grown and harvested, and they'll learn how to make tomato sauce in this engaging title that promotes food literacy.

Taste the World! Tomato by World Book (2020)

Did you know that many people once believed that tomatoes were poisonous? And that in German folklore certain plants related to tomatoes were believed to be used by witches to produce werewolves? Or that a tomato-throwing festival is held every year in Spain? You'll learn this and more in World Book's Taste the World! Tomato. Along the way, you'll find fun food facts and learn how to make some tasty recipes!

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina (2016)

Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

Bear and Bunny Grow Tomatoes by Bruce Koscielniak (1993)

A hard-working bear and a lazy bunny both plant tomatoes in their gardens, with quite different results

General Lessons & Activities:

Lessons and Activities

Growing Minds: Weeding the Garden

Students will use pictures or sample plants and follow instructions to identify and remove weeds from the garden. Student can then work collaboratively to sort, count, and classify the types of weeds removed from their community garden

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2		CM 1: 4.1 CM 2: 4.2	CS 3: 4.1		LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6	PM 2: 4.1 PM 2: 4.2

Growing Minds: Vegetable Crowns

As students construct and customize vegetable crowns, they have the chance to identify, develop interest, and knowledge in new fruits and vegetables. This is a great opportunity for students to share stories of produce they’ve tried in the past and produce they are interested in sampling in the future.

Louisiana Student Standards

Approaches to Learning	Creative Thinking and Expression	Math	Science	Social Studies	Language and Literacy Development	Physical Well-being and Motor Development	Social-Emotional Development
AL 1: 4.1 AL 1: 4.2 AL 2: 4.1 AL 2: 4.2	AL 2: 4.3				LL 1: 4.1 LL 1: 4.2 LL 1: 4.3 LL 1: 4.4 LL 1: 4.5 LL 1: 4.6 LL 2: 4.2	PM 2: 4.1

General Lessons & Activities:

Books

Fresh Delicious Poems from the Farmers’ Market by Irene Latham (2016)

In these vivid poems, blueberries are “flavor-filled fireworks,” cucumbers are “a fleet of green submarines in a wicker sea,” lettuce tastes like “butter and pepper and salt,” but sometimes “I crunch into a leaf the very same flavor as rain.” The unexpected, ingenious imagery and enticing artwork in this collection will inspire the imaginations of young readers, and show how poetry can be as fresh and delicious as the farmers’ market produce it celebrates.

Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons (1989)

Follow the transformation from a tiny white egg laid on a leaf to a brilliantly colored butterfly in this kid-friendly introduction to metamorphosis.

Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons (2013)

Follow a ladybug through the four stages of its development from egg to adult, and learn about its behavior and habitat—plus, how little ladybugs help protect crops by eating harmful insects. Bright illustrations and an easy-to-read text make this ideal for young readers studying the natural world.

Ladybugs (Little Critters) by Lisa Amstutz (2016)

Ladybugs can be red with black spots. But did you know they can have other colors? Appeal to young children's fascination with nature with delightfully simple, fun text and bright, close-up photos.

Are You A Butterfly? by Judy Allen (2003)

Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly; follow the metamorphosis of this familiar backyard creature as it evolves into a delicate flying insect.

Are You A Ladybug? by Judy Allen (2003)

This accessible book is perfect for reading aloud and tells young readers how they would experience life if they were a ladybug.

Plants Feed Me! By Lizzy Rockwell (2015)

Sink your teeth into the plants that feed the world—flowers, fruits, seeds, and all! With its simple text and bright, appealing illustrations, this book is perfect for young readers learning about where their food comes from.

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (2005)

If Little Pea doesn't eat all of his sweets, there will be no vegetables for dessert! What's a young pea to do? A delightful twist on a classic parent predicament, children will enjoy the unique tale and find themselves relating with Little Peamore than expected.

What Grew in Larry’s Garden by Laura Alary (2020)

A girl and her neighbor grow a community from their garden. Grace thinks Larry's garden is one of the wonders of the world. In his tiny backyard next door to hers, Larry grows the most extraordinary vegetables. Grace loves helping him --- watering and weeding, planting and pruning, hoeing and harvesting. And whenever there's a problem --- like bugs burrowing into the carrots or slugs chewing the lettuce --- Grace and Larry solve it together. Grace soon learns that Larry has big plans for the vegetables in his special garden. And when that garden faces its biggest problem yet, Grace follows Larry's example to find the perfect solution

The Garden Classroom: Hands-On Activities in Math, Science, Literacy, and Art by Cathy James (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.

And The Good Brown Earth by Kathy Henderson (2008)

Gram and Joe love to spend time together taking care of the vegetable patch, but it takes a lot of patience. There’s digging time, planting time, weeding time, watering time, even thinking time. Meanwhile, the seasons change, and while Gram does things her way, Joe does things his way. But come harvest, each will find wondrous surprises, thanks to the benevolence of the good brown earth.

Yucky Worms by Vivian French (2012)

Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature.

Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution by Diane Stanley (2022)

A delicious nonfiction picture book biography about pioneering chef Alice Waters who kickstarted the organic food movement.

The Little Gardener: Helping Children Connect with the Natural World by Julie Cerny (2020)

The Little Gardener is an engaging illustrated guide for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators who want to help children explore the natural world through gardening. Part how–to, part teaching tool, and part inspiration, The Little Gardener is a thoughtful combination of detailed instructions, tips, anecdotes, and seasonal activities designed to connect gardeners to natural systems.

Counting in the Garden by Emily Hruby (2016)

Young children will love finding and counting all of the garden treats. Every other page introduces a new plant or animal into the mix until ultimately all twelve additions are featured together in the final, abundantly overgrown garden

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary Siddals (2014)

Teach kids to compost and help them develop life-long habits to protect the Earth. From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book.

Farming by Gail Gibbons (2019)

Farms are busy places throughout the year. Animals are born, fields are plowed and planted, and crops are harvested. The winters are quiet, but there are always chores to be done, and soon spring will come again. This new edition of a popular favorite has been vetted by an agricultural scientist and includes updated farming procedures and shows new safety equipment for family farms.

A Farmer’s Life for Me by Jan Dobbins (2013)

A busy family and their friends spend a day working and playing on the farm. From milking the cows in the morning to closing the gate at night, learn about a day in the life of a farming family.

Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie dePaola (2012)

In this humorous tale, Strega Nona attempts to teach Big Anthony about gardening and the importance of order. But when Big Anthony does not follow her directions and tries to use her growing spell, his small vegetable patch turns into an unruly jungle! What will they do with all the extra vegetables?

Plant a Little Seed by Bonnie Christensen (2012)

With a little help from a watering can, bright sunlight, and a lot of patience, two friends plant seeds in their community garden and watch how they grow. Slowly, the seeds turn into sprouts, which grow into stems, followed by leaves and buds! The garden will soon be teeming with life and ready for a harvest season celebration. But until then, the children water and wait and dream

It’s Our Garden: From Seeds to Harvest in a School Garden by George Ancona (2015)

Want to grow what you eat and eat what you grow? Visit this lively, flourishing school-and-community garden and be inspired to cultivate your own. Part celebration, part simple how-to, this close-up look at a vibrant garden and its enthusiastic gardeners is blooming with photos that will have readers ready to roll up their sleeves and dig in.

Rah, Rah, Radishes!: A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre (2014)

Know anyone who doesn’t like veggies? Here is a book that's sure to change their hungry minds! With raucous, rhyming text, Rah, Rah, Radishes! celebrates fresh vegetables, nature’s bright colors, and the joy of healthy eating. The book’s interactive spirit encourages kids to join in on the read-aloud fun, and little ones won't be able to resist the book’s vibrant photographs—they’re a feast for the eyes!

Grow! Raise! Catch!: How We Get Our Food by Shelley Rotner (2017)

Farmers and fishermen show off their bounty in this celebration of agriculture and healthy eating! Bright, enticing photographs of plants, animals, and the people who work to raise them are paired with an accessible text explaining the different kinds of farms that produce our food. Fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, meat, eggs, and fish are represented, with notes on where and how they grow, and what we make from them. Grow! Raise! Catch! offers a breakdown of the farm-to-table process perfect for preschoolers and kindergarten students. Includes a glossary of important terms introduced in the text, and an author's note on how eating fresh foods helps you stay healthy.

Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson (2014)

Before we eat, many people must work very hard―planting grain, catching fish, tending animals, and filling crates. In this book, vibrantly illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Mary Azarian, readers find out what must happen before food can get to our table to nourish our bodies and spirits.