"Help! I'm the New Garden Parent” - Online Lessons and Resources for Garden Educators

Recently, my friend who has become the "garden parent" for her son's school lamented to me, "I know how to garden, but what am I going to do with 10 kindergarteners in the garden?" There is a world of difference between gardening in your yard and gardening with a class of kids. Although not essential, gardening skills help, but having lesson plans and ideas about outdoor classroom management can create a garden educator who can bring learning to life in the garden.

All of the following can be found at our School Garden Resource page, but for the person wanting to get a quick start, I often share the following:

• Managing an Effective Outdoor Classroom handouts and videos of lessons

• Various Scavenger Hunts

• Easy School Garden Activities "Back Pocket Activities" 

• Worm Bin Bingo Cards plus links to teacher guides for lessons on worms

• Fun Edible Activity 

• 1st-4th Grade Science Exploration Lessons 

• A whole other page of resources related to Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education

Of course the best resource is having a book in hand. Life Lab's Publication page lists our curriculum and activity guides. Most publication descriptions have sample activities to view, including one of my favorite activities Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other.

Now once you get the taste for teaching in the garden, you'll want to visit for a Garden Classroom Workshop....