Farms – Island Grown Schools

Curriculum Toolkit
Over the years, we have honed in on priority curricular units for every grade level, preschool through 12th grade, that build on each other and provide a meaningful food education for the students we work with.
This Toolkit is the compilation of these units, along with their related teaching standards and sequence. We are constantly adding to this site, so please check in again soon for updates.

We designed this curriculum framework to help our students grasp the following key concepts by the time they graduate from High School:

Feel confident in making healthy food choices

Appreciate the farming profession

Know that everyone can grow food

Understand the connection between healthy soil, healthy plants and healthy people

Recognize a regenerative, local food system is inclusive and promotes a healthy ecosystem.

Winter in the Garden

OBJECTIVE Students will use their senses and observation to notice changes in the garden in the winter. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS How do seasons affect the garden? MATERIALS NEEDED Three adult group leaders PROCEDURE Introduction:• Review seasons• What did we see in the fall? Let’s see if things have changed. Activity:• Divide the class into three groups. […]

Grade levels Prek-2

Core curriculum subjects Science

Island Grown Schools topics Farms

From Sheep to Sweater

OBJECTIVE Students will learn how wool is processed to make knitted garments. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS How do we make wool? Why do farmers raise sheep? MATERIALS NEEDED Cards or props that represent the processing steps from grass to butter (see step #2) Toy sheep or puppetScissors to represent sheep shearsBag of raw fleeceDog grooming brushes or […]

Grade levels 3-5, Prek-2

Core curriculum subjects Science

Island Grown Schools topics Farms

Planning our Garden

OBJECTIVE Students understand the different growing needs of different plants, the difference between perennial and annual plants. Students will understand the benefits and challenges of an annual raised bed growing system. Students are able to. organize a planting chart for different annual crops based on their growing needs. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What are the diverse components […]

Grade levels 9-12

Core curriculum subjects Science

Island Grown Schools topics Farms, Gardens

Making Applesauce

OBJECTIVE Students will be able to describe the seasonal changes on a farm, from fall to winter. Students will be able to identify different chores that are done on a farm in winter. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What happens on a farm in winter? What are the jobs on a farm in winter? How do we have […]

Grade levels Prek-2

Core curriculum subjects Science

Island Grown Schools topics Farms

Gleaning Introduction

OBJECTIVE Students will understand the historical significance of gleaning and its place in our community today. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is gleaning? Why is it important? MATERIALS NEEDED N/A PROCEDURE Activity: What is gleaning?a. Hear ideas from students. Make list.b. Introduce images as historical artifacts. Students must try to find out what gleaning is based on […]

Grade levels 3-5

Core curriculum subjects Science

Island Grown Schools topics Farms

Curriculum Toolkit

Winter in the Garden

From Sheep to Sweater

Planning our Garden

Making Applesauce

Jobs of a Farmer

Gleaning Introduction