"Education Outside advances science education and environmental literacy by teaching outdoors in public schools. We spark children's interest in science and connect them to the natural world through hands-on learning in school gardens." This is an excellent resource for seasonally-relevant elementary garden lessons.
"We integrate garden and cooking activities into the regular classroom curriculum to support the development and education of the whole child. This website was developed to serve as a resource for teachers, garden educators, parents and students who are interested in starting a school garden." Includes lesson plans, garden plot plans, recipes, and more.
University of Georgia School Garden Resources
"This information from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' school garden initiative provides a range of resources for anyone interested in school gardens." Includes lesson plans and ideas for theme gardens.
Project Based Learning: Schoolyard Habitat
"In Schoolyard Habitat Project, students design and implement a plan to enhance their school campus by creating insect habitats, providing nesting sites for birds, planting native plants or even removing weeds and invasive plants." Detailed PBL unit focused on garden connections.
"We cultivate gardeners, grow food and nourish community. We believe the lessons offered in a garden are life changing for children of all backgrounds, but in particular, those from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Through the wonders of a garden, students experience hands-on lessons in: biology and ecology, horticulture, wellness and nutrition, recycling, composting, and community building. In support of school gardens, DUG offers an integrated nutrition and gardening curriculum to school communities." Includes lesson plans, information about youth farmers' markets, and research supporting garden education.
"Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden-based education." Includes detailed units of study.
Check out the Coast to Coast Virtual School Garden Tour & Engagement Guide!
"Our mission is to provide educators with inspiring, research-based gardening resources and professional development to support engaging, empowering, and relevant learning experiences for children, youth, adults, and communities." Includes lesson plans and links to relevant citizen science projects.
"We believe that learning through gardening should be an indispensable part of children’s education and personal development. Learning through gardening connects kids to their food and community and engages them in nurturing a healthy planet." Includes lesson plans, suggested activities, and garden basics.
"Green Education Foundation (GEF) is a non-profit organization committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging them to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions." Includes lesson plans and professional development opportunities.
"CitySprouts introduces school gardens as a core element of children’s public education. We partner with public schools to ensure that hands-on learning, environmental stewardship and the experience of growing and eating healthy food become part of every child’s life." Includes lesson plans.
"The FBEN is a free member network established to strengthen and support the work of educators, farmers, and community leaders who provide access and experiences on working farms." Includes planning resources and printables.
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom
"The mission of Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom (MAC) is to promote agricultural literacy among educators and to provide them with the skills and support to integrate agriculture into their classroom." Includes lesson plans and topical overviews.
National Farm to School Network
"Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings." Includes a downloadable Massachusetts Farm to School Cookbook.
"Growing Minds is a program of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food." Includes detailed lesson plans, literature connections, and recipes.
"School Sprouts Educational Gardens collaborates with educators and community partners to design and implement standards-driven, hands-on" gardening experiences for children in Western Massachusetts.
Captain Planet’s Project Learning Garden Program
"The Captain Planet’s Project Learning Garden Program encourages educators to consider the school garden as an extension of the traditional classroom rather than an extracurricular activity. All Learning Garden lessons are tied to common core curriculum standards, encourage inquiry-based learning, provide hands-on experiential learning, and guide the teacher towards the next generation science standards. Each lesson also provides an environmental stewardship learning opportunity." Includes lesson plans and video clips.