OBJECTIVE

Students will cook and taste pea shoot pesto

Students will chop vegetables

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What do plants need to grow?

How can I grow food?

How do I prepare nutritious food?

MATERIALS

• Pea Shoot Pesto Recipe
• Students Pea Trellis Project Booklets
• Food processor
• 2 cups pea shoots (packed)
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Carrots
• Cutting boards
• Children’s knives

PROCEDURE

Introduction:

Observe peas together and take in how much they have changed! Notice if they are enjoying the support of the trellises. Tell students that today they will harvest the pea shoots and make pea shoot pesto. Harvest pea shoots together; with kitchen shears is best. Rinse the shoots and have students taste the pea shoots. Remind students they may want to try by smelling, licking, feeling or eating are all great ways to experience the pea shoots! Discuss what they taste like. Do they taste like peas?

Activity

Discuss what would happen if they let the peas keep growing. Would they have enough space to flourish and make seeds? Show students the pea shoot pesto recipe and make it as a whole class adding ingredients together. After the pesto is made, cut up or have students cut up some carrots to go with the pesto. Review how to chop safely. You can also discuss how carrots grow differently than peas and what part of the plants we eat.

Wrap Up/Assessment: 

Taste the pesto and give students the recipe to take home.

MA CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

Science Technology/Engineering

• K.ESS.2.2 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the
• K.LS.1.1 Observe and communicate that animals (including humans) and plants need food, water, and air to survive. Animals get food from plants or other animals. Plants make their own food and need light to live and grow.
• K.LS.1.2 Recognize that all plants and animals grow and change over time

Comprehensive Health

• 2.1.NE.1 Identify situations when a nutrition-related decision needs to be made (e.g., when trying new foods, choosing snacks and beverages, eating breakfast).