Growing Together: Open Forum

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  • 1.  Garden Curriculum for secondary (7-8)

    Posted 08-31-2022 02:40:00 PM
    Hello everyone,

    I am a passionate gardener in my own life. I have noticed my students have an interest when I speak of it to them. I am using enrichment during RTI to teach some students about gardening. I am unsure where to start or if there is an actual curriculum you use. Could anyone point me in a direction so that I can make actual lessons for my students that are informative and engaging? I'm new to this and it seems my district doesn't 'do' this so I am trying to start doing it here.

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    Joshua Deaver
    Travis Middle School Amarillo ISd
    Amarillo TX
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  • 2.  RE: Garden Curriculum for secondary (7-8)

    Posted 09-01-2022 11:12:00 AM
    I teach middle school (and elementary students) in our school garden. For MS, I am using the Junior Master Gardener level 2: Plant growth and development curriculum. Some of this curriculum is very hands on, while other lessons are a bit more theory based. I have a made a few small adjustments along the way, but it works well.  My students also work in the school garden and learn in a hands on way through the seasons.

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    Anne Baines
    Cornerstone Prep Academy
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  • 3.  RE: Garden Curriculum for secondary (7-8)

    Posted 09-01-2022 11:36:00 AM
    Hi Joshua,

    There is so much you can do with Middle Schoolers in the garden.  It is the PERFECT vehicle for teaching Life Science, Environmental Science, Art, even History.   For example, with our middle school summer campers we talk about the rationing of World Wars I and II, study the Victory Garden posters -- good primary source activity, and garden with them.  They LOVE it! 

    Here are just a few links with great stuff for the middle grades:





    https://slowfoodusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Slow-Food-USA-Clean-Curriculum-Low-Res.pdf

    There are a gazillion more out there. 

    --
    Michelle Zupan
    Curator 
    Hickory Hill & the Tom Watson Birthplace
    502 Hickory Hill Drive
    Thomson, GA  30824
    706-595-7777
    FAX: 706-595-7177

    Visit us at www.hickory-hill.org or on Facebook.
    Follow us on Twitter: HHEducation

    Historic homes of the Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc








  • 4.  RE: Garden Curriculum for secondary (7-8)

    Posted 09-01-2022 12:12:00 PM
    Joshua,

    Reach out to your Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agent.  They use the Junior Master Gardener program that someone else on this thread recommended.

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    Eugene Tuckwiller
    Houston TX
    7134985952
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  • 5.  RE: Garden Curriculum for secondary (7-8)

    Posted 09-01-2022 12:22:00 PM
    Hi Joshua,
    Big Green has amazing curriculum materials for free on line: https://biggreen.org/curriculumandactivities/readysetgrow/?utm_source=Curriculum+Comms&utm_campaign=99077e8838-CURR+Registration&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6ab8eaace6-99077e8838-183240988

    Also, if you want to go in the direction of food systems and food justice, Johns Hopkins has an incredible program called Food Span:
    https://www.foodspan.org/lesson-plans/

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    Lisa Hardin
    St. Edward High School
    Lakewood OH
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