Lesson 1: Fall Harvest
In this lesson, students harvest (and taste!) our fall crops (which they selected and planted last year in the fourth grade) and begin to explore and discuss why they are grateful for our school gardens and the land on which they grow.
Lesson 2: This Land
In this lesson, students reconstruct part of a land history of the Amherst area dating back 1,000 years and explore how the use of this land and the people on it have changed over time.
Lesson 3: Story Beads
In this lesson, students continue the investigation of the Pocumtuc and Norwottuck people, use beads to represent their learning, and begin to explore ways in which we can meaningfully acknowledge the people and foodways that existed in this area prior to European colonization.
Lesson 4: Book & Plow Field Trip
In Collaboration with Book & Plow Farm and The Mead Art Museum, students visit Book & Plow Farm and create multiple artworks around the farm in celebration of the history of the land and the people and plants indigenous to the Connecticut River Valley.
Lesson 5: Land Gratitudes
Students spend time exploring and observing the garden and reflecting on what they have learned about the history of the land and the people indigenous to this area. Students create land gratitudes to be displayed in the school gardens and shared with second graders during our final garden time.
Lesson 6: Wisdom Walk
In this lesson, 5th grade students lead 2nd graders on a tour of the garden to share their garden learning from this year.