Lesson Plans - Garden to Plate

Lesson Plans

Hands-on learning and exploration in the garden, in the kitchen, and around the table.

More information and resources coming soon!

Week 1

GARDENING	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY
Lesson 1 - Guide for Facilitators Good Food Needs Good Soil	Lesson 1 - Guide for Facilitators Rainbow Veggies - Eat the Rainbow!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children will become acquainted with the garden space. Children will learn the importance of good soil for growing good food. Children will learn the techniques to cultivate soil, plant seedlings and watering.	Children can be respectful when trying new foods. Children can begin to learn how to use kitchen equipment safely. Children can identify different vegetables. Children can identify benefits of eating different kinds of vegetables.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers can talk about what soil is and how to care for it, along with demonstrating the differences between good’ and ‘bad’ soil. Caregivers can demonstrate the techniques for cultivating soil, planting seedlings and watering. Caregivers can guide and correct the children as they cultivate the soil, plant their seedlings and water them.	Caregivers can identify ways to encourage children to try new foods. Caregivers can provide guidance for children in learning new food skills.
Quick CLICK for Week 1 Video Links
Transplanting Herbs into Pots Watering Your Herbs	Group Expectations Familiarizing Kids with Ingredients Identifying Ingredients Food Skills

Week 2

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
What are Seeds?	Kids in the Kitchen
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can identify the parts of a seed and a seedling. Children can sow seeds correctly for good germination and early growth. Children are able to water seeds correctly.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with a variety of spices, herbs, and seasonings to flavour foods in different ways.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers are able to identify the parts of a seed and a seedling. Caregivers are able to demonstrate the correct techniques for sowing and watering.	Caregivers will become familiar with how to talk to kids about ingredients that make a recipe and how to use seasonings, herbs, and spices to flavour foods the way we like.
Week 2 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 2 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	All-Dressed Kale Chips
Week 2 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 3

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
What Parts of Plants Do We Eat?	Building Rainbow Plates Build Healthy Bodies
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can identify edible parts of plants. Children will explore how the parts of plants we eat, and even what plants we eat, depends on our culture and knowledge of plants. Children can plant a seed on their own. Children can determine when soil has enough water.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with the components of healthy meals and snacks. Children will be introduced to and practice using measuring spoons, as well as mashing and dicing skills.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers can demonstrate how to plant seeds. Caregivers will become familiar with what parts of plants we eat, when in the season we eat them, and how best to grow them.	Caregivers will become familiar with the healthy plate model for meals, and how to build healthy snacks.
Week 3 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 3 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Taco Lettuce Wraps
Week 3 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 4

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Meet the Legume Family!	What Are Your Favourite Lentils and Beans?
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can recognize the similarities and differences among plants in the Legume Family. Children can grow sprouts in a jar for quick and easy eating. Children continue to master gardening skills-sowing and watering.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will be introduced to the nutrition and varieties of lentils and beans.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers also recognize the similarities of various common species in the Legume Family. Caregivers are comfortable with the technique of sprouting so children can successfully grow sprouts. Caregivers increase their confidence to be able to guide children in performing basic gardening skills.	Caregivers will become familiar with cooking with quinoa, including how to enhance its flavour and how to store it.
Week 4 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 4 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Chickpea Quinoa Salad
Week 4 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 5

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Meet the Carrot Family!	TWO Rainbow Stripes Make A Healthy Snack
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can recognize the different carrot plants as they become seedlings. Children continue to master gardening skills-sowing and watering.	Children will become familiar with the components of a healthy snack. Children will be introduced to different ways of eating fruits and vegetables.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers also recognize the similarities of various common species in the Carrot Family and can point them out to children. Caregivers are comfortable with the technique of sowing small seeds and can help children successfully sow seeds in pots and in the garden. Caregivers increase their confidence to be able to guide children in performing basic gardening skills.	Caregivers will become familiar with how to build quick and healthy snacks. Caregivers will become familiar with different ways of introducing vegetables and fruits to encourage intake.
Week 5 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 5 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	French Onion Dip Yogurt Dip
Week 5 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 6

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Pollinators and Flowers: We Need Bees!	Different Coloured Veggies Have Different Nutrients
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children understand the role that bees have in pollinating our plants. Children can demonstrate basic skills for transplanting, potting, and watering flowers.	Children will become familiar with the ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with different types of nutrients in different vegetables. Children will be introduced to and practice squeezing lemons, as well as grating and peeling skills.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers will become familiar with the different types of pollinators, and the importance of pollinators for healthy gardens. Caregivers can demonstrate the correct techniques for transplanting, potting, and watering flowers.	Caregivers will become familiar with different ways of increasing nutrient varieties in their children’s diets.
Week 6 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 6 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Carrot Slaw
Week 6 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 7

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Meet the Lettuce Family!	New Foods, New Adventures!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can recognize the similarities and differences between members of the Lettuce Family. Children can identify the parts of the lettuce plants that we eat. Children will become familiar with the importance of lettuce plants for their leaves and flowers, but also roots and seeds.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with a variety of spices, herbs, and seasonings to flavour foods in different ways. Children will be introduced to and practice knife safety and knife skills.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers also recognize the similarities of various common species in the Lettuce Family and can point them out to children. Caregivers increase their confidence to be able to guide children in performing basic gardening skills.	Caregivers will become familiar with ways to safely guide and encourage their children to practice knife safety and knife skills. Caregivers will become familiar with alternative sources of protein, and ways of integrating alternative proteins into family meals.
Week 7 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 7 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Rainbow Salad Rolls Peanut Dipping Sauce
Week 7 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 8

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Herbs! And How we Care for Them	Reduce Added Sugars by Making Your Own Smoothie!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can identify different types of herbs. Children can recognize the similarities and differences between members of the Herb Family. Children can demonstrate basic skills for transplanting, potting, and watering herbs.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will be introduced to different ways of eating fruits and vegetables. Children will become familiar with how to use fruit to sweeten meals.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers also recognize the similarities of various common species in the Herb Family and can point them out to children. Caregivers can demonstrate correct techniques for planting and caring for herbs. Caregivers increase their confidence to be able to guide children in performing basic gardening skills.	Caregivers will become familiar with nutritional differences between store bought and homemade smoothies, and interpreting nutrition labels. Caregivers will become familiar with ways to reduce added sugars in meals. Caregivers will be introduced to different ingredients to add to smoothies to help us feel full longer.
Week 8 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 8 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Berry and Avocado Green Smoothie Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie
Week 8 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 9

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Meet the Onion Family!	Healthy Ingredient Substitutes Make Delicious Meals Too!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can recognize the similarities and differences among members of the Onion Family. Children will explore the importance of the Onion Family in different cultures. Children will learn how to plant garlic bulbs for next year.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with healthy ingredient substitutes to use in recipes.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers also recognize the similarities of various common species in the Onion Family and can point them out to children. Caregivers can demonstrate correct techniques for planting and caring for garlic. Caregivers increase their confidence to be able to guide children in performing basic gardening skills.	Caregivers will become familiar with how to use healthy ingredient substitutes for proteins, fats, and sugars.
Week 9 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 9 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Spinach Dip Pita Chips
Week 9 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 10

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Meet the Tomato Family!	Garden to Table Ingredients (in Calgary)!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can recognize the similarities and differences among members of the Tomato Family.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with the benefits of eating in season. Children will become familiar with using seasonal ingredients to make food taste more flavourful. Children will be introduced to and practice skills for seeding tomatoes and peppers.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers also recognize the similarities of various common species in the Tomato Family and can point them out to children. Caregivers increase their confidence to be able to guide children in performing basic gardening skills.	Caregivers will become familiar with how eating locally sourced and home grown produce can be more economical and taste better. Caregivers will become familiar with ways to increase their use of seasonal ingredients both in the garden and at the grocery store.
Week 10 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 10 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Pico De Gallo
Week 10 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 11

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
Saving Seeds and Putting our Gardens to Bed	Seeds We Grow, Seeds We Eat!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children will explore how seed saving is part of the cycle of gardening. Children will learn how to put the garden to bed for the winter. Children will develop skills for harvesting.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with connecting seeds to flowers. Children will be introduced to different ways of eating vegetable and fruit seeds.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers will…	Caregivers will become familiar with the connections between seeds and their flowers. Caregivers will be introduced to different ways of using seeds in cooking.
Week 11 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 11 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Peanut Butter Granola
Week 11 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!

Week 12

GARDEN	NUTRITION & FOOD LITERACY LESSONS
End of Season Celebration	Celebrate the Land and Eat from the Land!
Learning Objectives for Children:
Children can identify the parts of a seed and a seedling. Children can sow seeds correctly for good germination and early growth. Children are able to water seeds correctly.	Children will become familiar with ingredients to prepare a recipe. Children will become familiar with a variety of spices, herbs, and seasonings to flavour foods in different ways.
Learning Objectives for Caregivers:
Caregivers will…	Caregivers will become familiar with Indigenous histories and connections to the land. Caregivers will become familiar with how different plants nourish each other in the garden, and how they can nourish us in the kitchen.
Week 1 Handouts and Activity Sheets:	Week 1 Recipes:
More information coming soon!	Three Sisters Soup
Week 12 Video Tutorials:
Videos coming soon!	Videos coming soon!