…ng Minds’ farm to school literature database to browse our collection of recommended books. Type “birds” or “trees” into the search bar to find books that align with this week’s theme. Recipe: Homemade Bird Feeder This week we’re sharing a recipe that’s for the birds! Kids can make their own homemade bird feeder, then watch to see who shows up to enjoy the feast. You’ll need the following supplies: empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes peanut…
…h a hands-on activity, students learn about mapping and construct a “bird’s-eye-view” picture of a garden bed. Through a reflection process, students work together to make group decisions in planning a classroom garden. Planting Starts (3rd grade): Students discuss warm and cool season plants, as well as which plants might need a “head start” inside. Students plant seeds in six pack containers and make predictions. This lesson plan is correlated f…
…doing wonderful things. The big three of WNC – Haywood, Henderson, and Buncombe – are all involved in ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School program in a variety of ways. All three districts get their produce from Marvin’s Produce, a produce distributor that works with area farmers to get local product into the 80 schools of the three districts. All three also participate in the NC Department of Agriculture Farm to School program, getting NC product…
…m and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in Durham, NC for a tour of the Geer Street Learning Garden in search of 6 plant parts. This is a learn-along video for Pre-K age students. Viewers will learn what six parts of a plant we can eat, see some examples of each of those parts, and learn a little song to help them remember what plants need. Watch their video here. — That’s it for this week. Check back next week for new resources. Click here to access Day…
…les/fruits, and milk. Reforming the school food system is an important long-term goal, and ASAP is working on incremental steps, beginning with increasing fresh local products served. ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School program focuses on local produce for a multitude of reasons, but is rooted in the belief that creating positive experiences with fresh fruits and vegetables encourages students to eat them. We are all more likely to eat foods we ar…
…fication helps a lot. Plant radishes or turnips even if you don’t like them-they come up in three or four days and are ready to harvest in just a few weeks. Planting some “starts” along with seeds offer students plants to observe before their seeds sprout. Use the garden to encourage leadership. Try to add responsibility and ownership to projects. (“Quincy is in charge of the wheelbarrow today.”) Connecting with another class or grade level offe…
…rs. Letter by letter, meet cart-pulling goats, clothes-munching goats, head-butting, hill-climbing, tail-wagging goats! Cats, chicks, dogs, and bunnies play along with these friendly goats, joining in the fun. From A is for Apple to Z is for Zoe, these rascally animals just won’t stop until they’ve romped through the whole alphabet. Watch a read-aloud on YouTube. This book is recommended for ages 2-5. Find more books Visit the Growing Minds’ farm…
…Kaban Recommended Level: Preschool, Kindergarten Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a…TRUCK?! With a DIG DIG here and a SCOOP SCOOP there, this classic folk song just got revved up! Beloved construction vehicles, like the excavator, dump truck, and bulldozer, will have the vehicle-obsessed of all ages singing along! — Plants Feed Me By Lizzy Rockwell Recommended Level: Preschool, Kindergarten “It’s easy to forget where eve…
…ip the questions for schools if your event will not be held in a school.) If you are in ASAP’s Appalachian Grown region, reach out to the Growing Minds team, growingminds@nullnullasapconnections.org, for apple-themed children’s books, apple recipe cards, and help brainstorming other NC Crunch activities….
…your school garden. Free seeds are only available to public and private pre-K to 12 schools in ASAP’s 60 county Appalachian Grown region. School Garden Resources Video: Edible School Gardens Tips for gardening with students Strategies for gardening with young children (farm to preschool) Sensory gardens for young children (farm to preschool) Plant list for Pre-K gardens (farm to preschool) Resource list: Starting a garden Resource list: Planting a…