Getting Started
First, Form Your Team
You'll receive an email in September with the list of Grow Lab volunteers for your class. Some classes will have several volunteers to share the load. If not, enlist a friend or text the class for monthly helpers. We’ve found having at least 3-4 volunteers per class is a good number. Once you have your team, decide how you'd like to communicate—WhatsApp, text, email, etc.
Talk to Your Teacher
We recommend picking one volunteer from your group to be the point of contact with the teacher. That person can email the teacher to determine what dates and times work best for the teacher to schedule Grow Lab lessons, starting with October’s lesson. Many volunteers ask for 1–2 possible time slots per month to help with planning.
When reaching out, you might also ask:
how long you'll have for each lesson (expect anywhere from 20-45 mins);
whether the teacher prefers scheduling lessons one month at a time, a few months in advance, or all at once at the beginning of the year (October–June);
how many volunteers the teacher prefers per lesson;
the teacher’s expectations around classroom management and how you can support their rules while teaching the lesson (while some teachers want to be actively involved in the lesson, they are not expected to).
Scheduling the Lesson
Once the teacher provides date options, you and the other volunteers can decide who will teach each lesson. Creating a SignUpGenius (or similar) with available dates can make it easy for volunteers to sign up and keep the teacher informed—though feel free to use whatever system works best for your group!
You can schedule the monthly lesson anytime during the month that works for you, the volunteers, and the teacher. Supplies will be in the shed by the first of the month unless we let you know otherwise.
Can’t Schedule a Lesson During the Assigned Month?
That’s totally fine—just do your best! We’re all volunteers, and sometimes schedules don’t align perfectly. Each month is tied to a specific lesson, but if you miss one, you can either skip it and move on or make it up the next month. Both the current and previous month’s supplies are always available in the shed.
Don’t forget to fill out the NISH visitor’s form before you come (pro-tip: bookmark the form or save it on your drive).
Lesson Plans
Each month, volunteers will receive a “What You Need to Know” email and a WhatsApp message in the school-wide Grow Lab chat. These highlight key tips and reminders for that month’s lessons and include the direct link to that month’s lesson folder.
Click here for quick access to all lesson folders (Pre-K–2).
Inside each month’s folder you’ll find:
Lesson plans (Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd) (updated as needed before lessons begin)
Any extra resources
A copy of the monthly “What You Need to Know” email (updated as needed before lessons begin)
A short FAQ just for that month’s lessons
Each lesson plan gives a topic overview, supply list, and easy step-by-step instructions. Everything’s ready to view, print, or download.
Materials
The books and most of the materials you will need for your activities are located in the garden shed, which is behind the school and adjacent to the school parking lot and dumpster. The code for the shed lock will be pinned in the school-wide Grow Lab WhatsApp chat.
Please take only what you need for your class and put everything back in the shed when you are done teaching a lesson so others aren’t left without or unable to find what they need. If a supply is running low or missing, please contact the Grow Lab (GL) Committee via the WhatsApp chat- the preferred method of contact. You can also email us at growlab@nishuanepta.org (but note this email is checked every 24-48 hours).
For some activities, volunteers may need to provide or source materials. You can request reimbursement by submitting receipts through the Volunteers PTA Reimbursement Form on the PTA website, making sure to note that the reimbursement is for “Grow Lab” (please get approval before purchasing anything over $20). We have a limited budget, so be a thrifty shopper–and we always appreciate donated materials!
If something is missing that you need for your activity, you can be creative– the most important part of Grow Lab is the kids experiencing nature. When in doubt, head to the garden and explore, and be sure to review the “Garden Etiquette” with the class (Google Doc found in each monthly lesson folder).
Etiquette for Classroom Volunteers
Have a conversation with your child about how you will be wearing your “Grow Lab Teacher Hat” and not your “Mommy/Daddy/Caregiver Hat” while in the classroom. During Grow Lab lessons, please keep conversations with the teacher focused on the activity, unless a comment about your child or another student directly relates to the lesson. Also, out of respect for student privacy, please don’t share observations about other students’ behavior outside the classroom.