Lesson Three:
The Beautiful and Yummy Garden

Story Printout
On-line version of story

Objective:
1. To have a good time exploring the world of plant foods.
2. To learn about and try new foods.

Preparing for the Lesson:
A few days before the Beautiful and Yummy Garden lesson, send home a note asking the parents to send in two or three pieces of produce with each child, making sure that all 16 different types of produce will be brought to class. (see "Fruit and Vegetable Checklist"). Ask each parent to let their child pick an additional fruit and / or vegetable while they're at the grocery store and send it / them to school along with their assigned selection.

Read the story to the children, or pass out the story sheets so that you may take turns reading. Consider one of the following options while you are reading or when you have completed the story. If you choose to utilize these options during the story, you will have to break long enough for the student's to complete each task.

Option #1
Either during or after the story, the children sample small tastes of the various named produce.

Option #2
Alternatively or additionally, students can pick their own produce by pasting pictures of foods they like, or would like to try into the provided 'baskets'. They can use the provided line drawings, draw their own, and/or cut pictures from magazines.

This basket of the student's favorite fruits and vegetables should be brought home and shared with the student's parents, who would then be encouraged to purchase these fruits and vegetables for eating at home. Additionally, you may wish to include a recipe card in the children's basket for students and parents to make together at home.

Note: If you choose not to introduce food samples during the story, we strongly encourage a tasting party at some point during the unit, immediately following the story would be preferred. Children's understanding and acceptance of food is ultimately based on one thing: taste. Without an opportunity to experience these foods, and even more specifically, to enjoy them amongst peers, attempts at encouraging healthy eating will remain academic.

Garden Ideas: Want to have a real garden for the children? Consider these fun ideas:

Growing carrots is a great way to get kids to eat healthy foods. Carrots from the store never taste as sweet and delicious as the ones you grow in your own garden. And the students will have so much fun digging them up.

Cherry tomatoes are another easy-to-grow and delicious favourite. At harvesting time bring them into the classroom or cafeteria and serve with greens they've also grown in the garden.

Potatoes are also lots of fun for kids to plant and harvest; they can use potatoes that have grown shoots. If you don't have room for a garden, try planting them in tires. Or, If you’ve got the space, plant a few pumpkin seeds. Let each child carve their own name into the skin of a young, green pumpkin. As the pumpkin gets bigger, children will be delighted to see their names grow, too.

 

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