School Gardens
School vegetable and fruit gardens are increasing in popularity. With the growing emphasis on hands-on learning and active participation, more schools have added gardens to serve as tools for science and environmental education.
Other subjects can also be taught through class gardens, such as math, language arts and nutrition. Gardens can increase children's respect for nature and aid in physical, mental and moral development.
Numerous studies have been conducted to look at some of the benefits of school gardens. For information on these studies, visit Cornell University’s Garden-Based Learning website.
Using School Garden Produce in Schools
Using school garden produce in school meals to conduct taste testings and cooking demonstrations is an allowable practice; however, individual school districts may have their own rules and regulations. The resources below provide information about school gardens and food safety.
- Food Safety Tips for School Gardens[
] (U.S. Department of Agriculture) -
Memo SP 06-2015 Farm to School and Garden Expenses
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51 kB
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(U.S. Department of Agriculture)
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Serving School Garden Produce in the Cafeteria
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257 kB
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(National Policy and Legal Analysis Network)
Gardening Curriculum
Website | Grade Level | Standardized for Core Subject | Lesson Plans | Gardening Activities | Reading Materials | Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K-8 | All Core Subjects | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Dig In! Standards-Based Nutrition Education From the Ground Up | 4-6 | Science | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Pre-K-12 | All Core Subjects | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
K-12 | All Core Subjects | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
K-12 | All Core Subjects | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Pre-K | Science | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Garden Games and Activities
Garden BINGO Downloads
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Garden Bingo Question Cards
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1 MB
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Blue Team Bingo Card
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2 MB
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Green Team Bingo Card
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2 MB
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Orange Team Bingo Card
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2 MB
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Purple Team Bingo Card
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2 MB
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Red Team Bingo Card
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2 MB
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Mooga Poster from National Dairy Council
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4 MB
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Garden Resources
- Garden ABCs: The School Garden Share Site: Find garden success stories, expert advice and information about fundraising and financial support.
- Gardening for Grades: Correlates garden-based education activities to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in specific academic content areas. Visit the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom website to request an online or hard copy.
- Grow to Learn Gardening Guide[ ]: A manual to help you start, maintain and sustain a school garden, developed by UF/IFAS.
- National Garden Association’s Kids Gardening: Lesson ideas, how-to's and fundraising information. Connect with people all over the United States who are interested in gardening with children.
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School Garden Guide
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3 MB
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: A guide to starting and sustaining a school garden in Florida, developed by FDACS.
- UF/IFAS Extension: Contact Master Gardeners in your district for help with your school garden.
Gardening How-To Videos
Garden Grants
Find grants by visiting the Food, Nutrition and Wellness Grants page or Florida Ag in the Classroom Inc.
