The Teacher Tool Box is a place where teachers can find new ideas for lessons they can use in their gardens.
Lessons are arranged by subject: math, social studies, science, language arts, and health.
The category called Basic Gardening Lessons includes lessons in a variety of subjects that teach the basics of gardening and plants.
Click on the pictures below to view the lessons.
Lessons are arranged by subject: math, social studies, science, language arts, and health.
The category called Basic Gardening Lessons includes lessons in a variety of subjects that teach the basics of gardening and plants.
Click on the pictures below to view the lessons.
Basic Gardening Lessons
Social Studies
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Math
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Science
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Video of
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Food Doesn't Grow
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Featured lesson for May
From the Garden State to Your Plate
Farming Fruits and Vegetables in New Jersey
The New Jersey Agricultural Society's New Children's Book
The New Jersey Agricultural Society is pleased to introduce our new book From the Garden State to Your Plate, Farming Fruits and Vegetables in New Jersey. It is designed to give elementary school students information about agriculture, the state’s third largest industry. Written for the upper elementary grades, we hope the book will be used by fourth graders in their study of New Jersey. Our funding from the United States Department of Agriculture enables us to distribute five copies free to every public school in the state that includes students in grades three to five.
The New Jersey Agricultural Society decided to create this book because there was previously no resource for children about agriculture in the state. We hope From The Garden State To Your Plate introduces your students to farming in New Jersey and encourages them to learn more about agriculture, to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and to visit a local farm or farmers market.
The book begins with Beatrice the honey bee – New Jersey’s official state insect – offering a tour of agriculture in New Jersey, where farming remains a key industry even though the state is the most densely populated in the country. The book highlights 10 important fruit and vegetable crops grown in New Jersey, and includes a map showing the counties in which these commodities are grown. A two-page spread on each fruit or vegetable explains where, when, and how it is grown, plus nutrition information. The book also includes information on beekeeping in New Jersey, machines that New Jersey farmers use, and a section on where to find locally grown fruits and vegetables. There are many photos of New Jersey farms.
The book begins with Beatrice the honey bee – New Jersey’s official state insect – offering a tour of agriculture in New Jersey, where farming remains a key industry even though the state is the most densely populated in the country. The book highlights 10 important fruit and vegetable crops grown in New Jersey, and includes a map showing the counties in which these commodities are grown. A two-page spread on each fruit or vegetable explains where, when, and how it is grown, plus nutrition information. The book also includes information on beekeeping in New Jersey, machines that New Jersey farmers use, and a section on where to find locally grown fruits and vegetables. There are many photos of New Jersey farms.
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From the Garden State
to Your Plate Lesson Plan and Activities OBJECTIVES: The student will be able to:
GRADES: 3-5, can be modified for younger grades PROCEDURE: Teachers read From the Garden State to Your Plate, Farming Fruits and Vegetables in New Jersey to the class or students read the book together in small groups. Students can also read parts of the book in small groups and report the key information to the class. For younger students: Teachers can read and discuss one section of the book at a time. 
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How Do I Receive
Free Copies For My School? A grant from the United States Department of Agriculture enables us to distribute five copies of From the Garden State to Your Plate FREE to every public elementary school in New Jersey that houses grades three, four, and five.
DISTRICTS WITH UP TO SIX SCHOOLS Books for each school district are being shipped to the director of curriculum (or similar position). If your school has not received copies, please check first with your director of curriculum to see if your school district has received them. DISTRICTS WITH SEVEN OR MORE SCHOOLS School districts with more the seven elementary schools are asked to request shipment of the books. Please send an email with the name and address of the person who wishes to receive the books to: learningthroughgardening@mail.com. QUESTIONS? Please contact: learningthroughgardening@gmail.com. |
SUGGESTED FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES:
For the complete lesson plan and book activities, click here.
Class Discussion: As a whole class or in small groups, ask the students to discuss what they learned in the book.
What surprised them?
What did they already know?
Do they have questions about agriculture in New Jersey?
What might they want to learn more about?
Play the New Jersey M-Ag-nificent Agriculture Quiz Bowl. Divide the class into two teams or have two classes of students play against each other. Randomly select four students to be the first quiz masters for each team and four more to be the second quiz masters. The teacher reads the first statement to the first student quiz master. The student must say if the statement is true or false. The quiz masters ask their teammates whether they think the answer is true or false. Teammates may not speak, but show a thumbs up if they think the question is true and thumbs down if they think the question is false. The quiz master then answers the question. The teacher reads the next statement to the opposing team and so on until all statements have been read. When all four quiz masters have answered a question, they sit down among their teammates and the second group of quiz masters comes up to answer questions.
Investigate additional agricultural topics: Divide students into small groups to research additional topics about agriculture in New Jersey. Here are some suggested topics, but the teacher may assign topics based on student responses in class discussion about questions they had after reading the book.
What other types of farming is done in New Jersey? The book explores fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey, but there are many other types of agriculture, including: Aquaculture: farming fish and shellfish, growing trees, shrubs, and plants for landscaping,
Nursery and greenhouse: trees, shrubs, and plants for landscaping, greenhouse growing of plants for commercial farmers and retail customers.
Eggs
Dairy
Horses
Research additional information about the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables: What are vitamins, anitoxidants, and minerals, and what do they do for your body?
Investigate farming in your county: Where are the local farms and what do they grow? Invite a local farmer to talk to your class.
Research other sources of New Jersey produce: Do your local supermarkets sell produce grown locally? Does your cafeteria use produce that is grown nearby?
Research other fruits or vegetables grown in New Jersey. Have students choose a favorite fruit or vegetable not described in the book and investigate how it is grown in New Jersey.
Why are some fruits and vegetables not grown in New Jersey? Ask students to research a favorite fruit or vegetable that isn’t grown in New Jersey. Why can’t it be grown here?
EXTENSION: Arrange a class trip to visit a New Jersey farm so your students can observe first-hand how their food is grown.
For the complete lesson plan and book activities, click here.
Class Discussion: As a whole class or in small groups, ask the students to discuss what they learned in the book.
What surprised them?
What did they already know?
Do they have questions about agriculture in New Jersey?
What might they want to learn more about?
Play the New Jersey M-Ag-nificent Agriculture Quiz Bowl. Divide the class into two teams or have two classes of students play against each other. Randomly select four students to be the first quiz masters for each team and four more to be the second quiz masters. The teacher reads the first statement to the first student quiz master. The student must say if the statement is true or false. The quiz masters ask their teammates whether they think the answer is true or false. Teammates may not speak, but show a thumbs up if they think the question is true and thumbs down if they think the question is false. The quiz master then answers the question. The teacher reads the next statement to the opposing team and so on until all statements have been read. When all four quiz masters have answered a question, they sit down among their teammates and the second group of quiz masters comes up to answer questions.
Investigate additional agricultural topics: Divide students into small groups to research additional topics about agriculture in New Jersey. Here are some suggested topics, but the teacher may assign topics based on student responses in class discussion about questions they had after reading the book.
What other types of farming is done in New Jersey? The book explores fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey, but there are many other types of agriculture, including: Aquaculture: farming fish and shellfish, growing trees, shrubs, and plants for landscaping,
Nursery and greenhouse: trees, shrubs, and plants for landscaping, greenhouse growing of plants for commercial farmers and retail customers.
Eggs
Dairy
Horses
Research additional information about the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables: What are vitamins, anitoxidants, and minerals, and what do they do for your body?
Investigate farming in your county: Where are the local farms and what do they grow? Invite a local farmer to talk to your class.
Research other sources of New Jersey produce: Do your local supermarkets sell produce grown locally? Does your cafeteria use produce that is grown nearby?
Research other fruits or vegetables grown in New Jersey. Have students choose a favorite fruit or vegetable not described in the book and investigate how it is grown in New Jersey.
Why are some fruits and vegetables not grown in New Jersey? Ask students to research a favorite fruit or vegetable that isn’t grown in New Jersey. Why can’t it be grown here?
EXTENSION: Arrange a class trip to visit a New Jersey farm so your students can observe first-hand how their food is grown.
