Children's Gardening
| Lesson Plans | Activities
Plants and Gardening |
Grants
My
First Garden
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/
A guide to the fun and clever world of gardening.
I Can Garden:Kidz
Corner
http://www.icangarden.com/kidz.cfm
A Canadian gardening site with a Kidz corner section that
offers a number of activities and projects for kids in the
garden.
Rodale Institute’s
Kids Regen.org
http://kidsregen.org/index.php
Kidsregen.org was launched in 2001 with the goal of empowering
children to make healthy choices for the environment, and
for themselves.
Growing
a Green Generation
http://horticulture.unh.edu/ggg.html
Growing a Green Generation is a horticulture curriculum
for pre-school to kindergarten age children with gardening
videos.
Gardening
for Kids
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/
knowhow/pp/gardening_kids/index.html
Tips from the Victory Garden for gardening with kids.
The
Edible School Garden Program
http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/homepage.html
Using food as a unifying concept, students learn how to
grow, harvest, and prepare nutritious seasonal produce.
Experiences in the kitchen and garden foster a better understanding
of how the natural world sustains us, and promotes the environmental
and social well being of the school community.
Change
Nutrition Education
http://king.wsu.edu/nutrition/
WelcometotheCHANGEcurriculum.htm
CHANGE integrates nutrition education with reading, writing,
math and science studies, while providing hands-on learning
in cooking and gardening for elementary aged children.
Kids Gardening Projects
http://tinyurl.com/y3zptk
Teaching children about nature and gardening is an important
mission for me. There are many wonderful activities that
are fun lessons for kids in the value of connecting with
their natural environment.
School
Gardens
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
kindergarden/Child/School/sgintro.htm
Learn about botany by starting a school garden
KinderGarden
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
kindergarden/kinder.htm
There are many opportunities available for children to become
involved with plants, gardens, or the outdoors in general.
Some of these opportunities include children's programs
at school gardens, botanic gardens or community gardens.
This site contains ideas for gardening with kids.
Junior Master
Gardener Program
http://www.jmgkids.us/index.k2
An international youth gardening program of the Cooperative
Extension Service network. JMG Mission: To grow good kids
by igniting a passion for learning, success and service
through a unique gardening education.
Wisconsin Fast Plants
http://fastplants.org/
Join thousands of teachers worldwide who use Fast Plants®
to bring science alive in their classrooms! These petite,
hardy, fast-growing plants whiz through an entire life cycle
in about 40 days, making them ideal for inquiry-based science
investigations and for learning about plant biology.
Plant
Science
http://school.discovery.com/teachers/
plant_science/
Without plants, which supply food, shelter, and oxygen,
people couldn't survive. Delve into the diverse world of
plants to discover how plants function and how they adapt
to the place they call home — with featured video
clips, lesson plans, discussion guide, and activities.
A
Seed by Any Other Name
http://ali.apple.com/ali_sites/
azli/exhibits/1000682/The_Lesson.html
Lesson plan on seeds with videos of student activities.
Scattered
Seeds
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=55859
Through a hands-on discovery lesson, students will be able
to recognize and describe the life cycle of a pine tree.
They will observe cones, record observations, and make predictions
as to how a cone's seeds are spread for reproduction. They
will learn about the changes that take place as a cone matures,
and will infer that a cone's seeds are scattered by the
wind. The culmination of this knowledge will aid them in
identifying the major stages in the life cycle of a pine
tree.
Plants
and their Parts
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/
lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=5&DocID=343
A lesson plan with activities to encourage students to observe
and document similarities and differences between parts
of plants.
Look
at Those Leaves
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/
lessons.cfm?Grade=k-2&BenchmarkID=5&DocID=215
Lesson plan to observe, measure, and sort tree leaves. To
examine leaves individually, in groups, and in relationship
to the entire tree.
What
Plants Need to Grow
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/
lessons.cfm?DocID=377
Lesson plan and activities on what plants need to grow.
Active
Plants
http://www.caosclub.org/totalcaos/
members/caosho55.html
This lesson plan is about how plants respond to changes
in their environment.
Plants
and Animals: Partners in Pollination
http://smithsonianeducation.org/db/
detail.asp?id=875
Pollination and the role plants and animals play in it.
Chill
Out!
http://www.kidsgardening.com/
2005.kids.garden.news/sept/pg3.html
Participate in a science experiment to learn the cold requirements
of spring-flowering bulbs.
Garden
in a Glove
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/maitc/bookbundle/
glove_garden.pdf
Lesson plan to help students understand seed germination.
Healthy
Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy People
http://king.wsu.edu/nutrition/documents/
3.HealthySoilUnit2Grades1-3.pdf
Lesson plan will show students the relationship between
soil and people.
A
Soil Sandwich
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=110493
Students will name, examine, and define four layers of soil
by comparing it to the layers of a sandwich. Students will
then compare soil textures and will go on an outside dig
to determine soil types. Finally, the students will work
on a wall mural and write about what they have learned.
Soil
Baby
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/maitc/
bookbundle/soil_baby.pdf
Make a soil baby to help students understand the basic needs
of plants.
Cycles
of Matter and Composting
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=91191
Students are sure to enjoy this hands-on approach to learning.
They will first be introduced to the cycles of matter and
how energy plays a part in this process. The teacher will
use a scan converter to display a website that describes
how matter cycles in an ecosystem. The teacher will then
make the connection that this knowledge can be used to help
people understand that some solid waste can be composted
to continue this process as well as reducing the amount
of garbage that is land filled/ incinerated. Students can
view a website that describes composting and will make a
compost column to view composting at work. This activity
will be ongoing and can last months if desired or can last
as little as a week.
Tell
Me about Composting: Nature’s Recyclers
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=94061
Students will go on an outdoor exploration and conduct an
experiment using a Berlese funnel. Before beginning this
hands-on activity, the students will review the basics of
composting and will be introduced to two types of composting,
how composting works, and some of the benefits of this type
of recycling. Students will view a PowerPoint slideshow
that describes the process of composting then will be introduced
to some of nature's recyclers by viewing a variety of overhead
transparencies.
Compost
in a Milk Carton
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=56464
In this environmental education lesson, students will create
a miniature compost pile using a milk carton and observe
what happens to the contents over time. They will then make
one classroom bin and compare biodegradable items (used
in the individual bins) and non-biodegradable items (used
in the classroom bin). The class will also discuss whether
or not creating a backyard compost pile could help decrease
overall solid waste.
Composting
in Our School
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=94163
Students will review the benefits of composting and the
types of materials that should go in a compost bin. The
students will view an online slideshow that reviews this
information and describes how to set up a school compost
bin. Students will then set up a class composting bin and
will use the nutrient rich soil to enrich the school flower
beds and around trees on campus to aid in their growth.
Note: This lesson requires an ongoing activity that will
continue throughout the entire school year.
A
Worm’s World
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=50861
In this environmental education lesson, students are introduced
to the concepts of producers, consumers, and decomposers
as part of the food chain or web through a demonstration
of an earthworm habitat. The students create a glass jar
worm habitat (one per class) and observe the worms’
work of mixing the soil, sand, and leaves over time. They
keep a journal or observation log of the changes in the
jar and discuss the importance of decomposers in the environment.
Wondering
about Worms
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/builderv03/lptools/
lpshared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=88455
Through utilization of Internet resources, pictorial representation
by use of a story board, and writing the student will depict
and explain the essential role the tiny earthworm has in
helping to keep the soil healthy for plants and trees. Additionally,
students will gain an appreciation and understanding of
how even the smallest organism has a vital role in the preservation
and maintenance of a healthy environment.
Plant
Projects
http://tinyurl.com/y5yy8g
Hands-on Home Grown projects and activities for kids about
plants, nature and insects.
Plant
Activities for School Grounds
http://www.rhs.org.uk/learning/education/
advisory_leaflets.asp
Activities for making your schoolyard an outdoor learning
center.
Gardening
with Children
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/
gardening_with_children/
Educational activities for gardening with kids.
A Scrapbook for All
Seasons
http://tinyurl.com/yy9yxk
Create a record of your garden to help kids appreciate the
changing seasons and see the value of simple and regular
observation.
Treasure
Hunt
http://tinyurl.com/wrkb6
A plant activity that will help students with their language
development, math and social skills.
Be
a Seed Collector
http://tinyurl.com/y6feuu
Activity will enforce the kid’s understanding of a
plant’s life cycle.
Plants
are Living Things
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revisewise/
science/living/06_act.shtml
Interactive online activity on plants.
Journey
to the Center of a Seed
http://www.kidsgardening.com/
2006.kids.garden.news/jan/pg2.html
Students observe, sort, and classify a variety of seeds
according to different properties, and then take a journey
inside a bean seed to predict and observe changes that occur
during seed germination.
Tulips:
Journey North
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tulip/index.html
Track the sweep of spring in the Northern Hemisphere by
keeping an eye on your Red Emperor tulips as they burst
forth and bloom! This exciting seasonal event begins underground
each fall.
Activities from the
Do It Yourself Network
http://tinyurl.com/ybsath
Growing Orchids
in School
http://www.teachers.tv/video/118
Pupils from Year 7 to 13 at a school in England are involved
in an orchid growing project and many are given their own
roles and responsibilities, from growing to pollinating
orchids. The pupils make contacts with established professionals,
whom they wouldn't normally meet, making the project very
empowering. Some of the 12-year-olds are carrying out the
kind of research usually carried out at PhD level.
My
First Garden
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/
A guide to the fun and clever world of gardening
Hort
Corner
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/hort/index.html
University of Illinois Extension Guide to Horticulture
Plant
Parts and their Function
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/
botany/plantparts.html
Detailed explanation of plant parts and their function from
Arizona State.
Fruits:The
Product of Fertilization
http://www.jburroughs.org/science/resources/
flower/seedsfruit.html
Learn all about fruits.
Botany
for Kids
http://www.nbii.gov/disciplines/botany/
science.html
Links to help you learn about the wide world of plants.
Careers in
Botany
http://www.botany.org/bsa/careers/
A guide to working with plants.
Biology
of Plants
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/bioplants/main.html
Learn about the functions of plant parts, pollination and
how plants make food.
The
Underground Adventure
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/
undergroundadventure/index.shtml
The world of soil is a rich habitat for many amazing creatures.
What do you think life would be like if you lived underground?
You've come to the right place to find out!
Questions
and Answers about Soils
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/
squirm/skworm.html
Answers to your questions about soils from the United States
Department of Agriculture.
The
Dirt on Soil
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/
soil/index.html
Learn about soil and its properties from the discoveryschool.com
Critters
of the Soil
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/
undergroundadventure/critters/critter_info.shtml
Learn about all the critters in your soil.
Composting
for Kids
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/
slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html
Slide program for kids on the basics of composting.
The Adventures
of Herman the Worm
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/
The autobiography of Squirmin' Herman the Worm.
Worm
World
http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/worm/
Get all the dirt on worms.
USDA Plant Database
http://plants.usda.gov/
A database with 30,000 plant images and a list of plants
in your state.
Plants
in Motion
http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/
starthere.html
Watch videos of plants moving to light, seeds germinating
and flowers opening and closing.
Seed Saver’s
Exchange
http://www.seedsavers.org/
Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves
and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming
a living legacy that can be passed down through generations.
Seed Germination
Database
http://tomclothier.hort.net/
Excellent listing of germination requirements for hundreds
of plants.
The Gardening
Launch Pad
http://gardeninglaunchpad.com/
Make The Gardening Launch Pad your starting point for all
your electronic gardening needs.
Low-Cost
Grow-Light Frame Plans
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/
factsheets/growlite/index.html
If you'd like to start your own seeds inside, or you work
with youth or children and are looking for fun and meaningful
projects, these grow-light plans might be just what you
need.
2007 Youth
Gardening Grants
http://www.kidsgardening.com/YGG.asp
National Gardening Association awards youth garden grants
to schools and community organizations with child-centered,
outdoor garden programs.
Hooked
on Hydroponics Grants
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/
2006-HOH-landing.asp
National Gardening Association joins the Hydroponic Merchants
Association and leading companies from the hydroponic gardening
industry to present the second annual Hooked on Hydroponics
awards.
Healthy
Sprouts Awards
http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts1.asp
As a way to encourage the growth of health-focused youth
gardens, NGA recognizes outstanding programs via the Healthy
Sprouts Awards, sponsored by Gardener's Supply. These awards
support school and youth garden programs that teach about
nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States.
2007
Wild Oats Gardening with Kids Award
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/
2007-wild-oats.asp
Kids eat better and develop positive attitudes towards fruits
and veggies when they grow and prepare these healthful foods
themselves. The Wild Oats Gardening with Kids Award will
give 10 schools and youth organizations supplies to establish
kitchen gardens, and provide tools and training for preparing
nutritious meals with the resulting produce.
2007
Mantis Award Program
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/
mantis-criteria.asp
Apply today to win one of 20 Mantis tiller/cultivators (each
complete with border edger attachment) for your garden program!
Kids
Growing with Dutch Bulbs Grant Program
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/
mga-bulbs.html
This award is a program of the Mail order Gardening Association,
offered in conjunction with the International Flower Bulb
Center, Dutch Bulb Exporters, and the North American Flower
Bulb Wholesalers Association. This 12th annual grant awards
schools with a package of 200 premium Dutch flowering bulbs
and related educational activities. Selection criteria include
student involvement, curriculum integration, and administrative
support.
America the Beautiful Fund
The American the Beautiful Fund offers grants of free seeds
for community planting projects. Grants of 100 to 2000 seed
packets are being offered on the basis of availability and
relative need. These are 2002-2003 seeds with germination
rates of 90 percent to 95 percent. For an application contact:
America the Beautiful Fund
725 15th Street,NW
Suite 605
Washington D.C. 20005
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