Classroom Resources

SUPPORTING INSTRUCTION BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE CLASSROOM  

The Detroit Public Schools Community District has one of the most extensive school garden programs in Michigan with eighty-two of the district’s 106 school buildings having their own beds for vegetable and herb gardens this year. 

​Project Healthy Community (PHC) is honored to work in many of these schools, and the materials featured below are provided in an opensource design to supplement the programming PHC offers in schools and to support your efforts to bring additional nutrition education and activities into your classrooms.

CLASSROOM TEACHER APPROVED​: The educational materials provided below align with the National Education Standards, Common Core Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. 

SPECIAL RESOURCES: VIDEOS FOR KINDERGARtEN, 1ST AND 2nd Graders ​

We hope that the four short videos featured below that combine nutrition education with literacy will capture the imagination of your students and get them excited about gardening, cooking and eating a colorful plate of fruits and vegetables! These videos were funded through a generous grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

We like food

Young people learn different types of healthy foods, exploring the importance of a varied diet.

I Eat Well

This video explores the importance of eating well and exercising regularly.

We Can Cook

Young people are encouraged to explore the kitchen in this video, which walks through basic steps in the cooking process. 

From Farm to Table

This video tracks the progress of food as it grows on a farm and makes its way to a grocery store.

​Additional Short Videos to Supplement Nutrition Education Classroom Programs (Varying age levels)

• Birke Baehr: What’s wrong with our Food System
  
• PBS: Urban Farming 
  
• Ron Finley: A guerilla gardener in South Central LA 
  
• Stephen Ritz: A teacher going green in the South Bronx
  
• Ann Cooper: Lunch Lessons: Changing the way we feed our children
  
• LaDonna Redmond: Food + Justice = Democracy

​Excellent Sources for Books to Supplement Nutrition Education Programs

• The Junior Master Gardener Program honors engaging, inspiring works of plant, garden and ecology-themed children’s literature through the “Growing Good Kids – Excellence in Children’s Literature Awards” Program. 
• The Michigan Fitness Foundation has reviewed primarily nutrition and physical fitness children’s books and created a book list. The list of books can be found at snap-ed.michiganfitness.org/wp-content/uploads/snap-ed-books-reviewed.pdf.

​School-Based Nutrition Education Curriculums

Youth Farm Stands Toolkit
Grade Level(s): Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, All Grade Levels
Number of Lessons: 7
Source: Slow Food USA
slowfoodusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Slow-Food-USA-Youth-Farm-Stand-Toolkit-High-Res.pdf

Description: Slow Food Denver and its partner, Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), developed a farm stand model on school grounds using fresh produce from school gardens and local farms. Youth Farm Stands (YFS) provide educational opportunities by reinforcing traditional academics such as math and science and building life skills such as customer service, conflict resolution, and entrepreneurship. The model also supports nutrition education training so that families can see the advantages of eating the fresh produce in their daily meals. Finally, YFSs support community-building as the stands become a gathering place for a school community and support the nutritional needs of that community.

Nutrition to Grow On
Grade Level(s): Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6
Number of Lessons: 9
Source: California Department of Education
cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/documents/ntgo.pdf

Description: An innovative curriculum for grades four through six that offers teachers a direct link between the garden and nutrition education. Nine lessons are designed to teach children and their families about nutrition by relating each lesson to a garden activity. The curriculum uses the garden to integrate disciplines, including science, mathematics, language arts, history, environmental studies, nutrition and health.

Linking Plants and Food
Grade Level(s): Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8
Number of Lessons: 1
Source: Seven Generations Ahead
biggreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SGA-Garden-Curriculum-_-Linking-Plants-and-Food.pdf

Description: The Linking Plants and Food Fresh from the Farm Garden Curriculum is designed to engage children from 5th through 8th grades. Linking Plants and Food addresses concepts of soil science, plant science, the food system, and food culture. 

Discovering Our Food System
Grade Level(s): Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Number of Lessons: 33
Source: Cornell Garden-Based Learning
blogs.cornell.edu/gblblog/files/2016/03/newlogoDiscovering-Our-Food-System-2lyk76c.pdf

Description: Discovering Our Food System Curriculum is an interdisciplinary, community-based exploration of the people and processes that shape our food system. Rooted in the places we live, eat, work, learn, and play, Discovering our Food System will help youth better understand what the food system means to them, how it affects their community and their health, and ways in which they can influence the food system.

Serving Up My Plate – A Yummy Curriculum: Level 3
Grade Level(s): Grade 5, Grade 6
Number of Lessons: 9
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Services
fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/sump_level3.pdf

Description: Serving Up MyPlate is a collection of classroom materials that helps elementary school teachers integrate nutrition education into Math, Science, English Language Arts, and Health. This yummy curriculum introduces the importance of eating from all five food groups using the MyPlate icon and a variety of hands???on activities. Students also learn the importance of physical activity to staying healthy.